When we decided that we were going to take on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea was extremely important to us that we supported the local communities.
Most of our trackers opted for a porter to carry our main backpacks. Australian Kokoda Tours only uses porters from the local villages, so all of the funds that we used to pay for our porters goes directly to the villages along the Trail.
All of the villages are traditional and there are lots and lots of children. One of the items that we were super excited to take over with us while we did the Trail was two dozen AFL balls.
Being proud sponsors of the men's and women's Brisbane Lions AFL side, we reached out to the Brisbane Lions to see if they would support us with supplying some of the miniature balls. Not only did they support us wholeheartedly, they also kindly donated money for us to take to them.
Turning up to the villages each afternoon and pumping up our AFL balls and handing them out the kids was an absolute highlight for many of us. We loved playing football with them!
Some days could be exhausting and such a mental battle, but to see the smiling faces, and to kick the balls with them each afternoon or lunchtime was something that all of us will never forget.
Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are. Many of us are fortunate to be given our first AFL ball from a young age. Some of these kids have not even seen one! For us to be able to provide this opportunity and be a part of it, it’s something we will be forever grateful for and will not take for granted. How lucky we are when we grow up in Australia with the opportunities that we have here in front of us.
It is with the most heartfelt emotions we say thank you to the Brisbane Lions. Thank you to our amazing team and all the beautiful porters that carried all the balls around for us. Thank you Herb who stepped up to be our resident ‘pump-the-ball-up-person’. It was an incredible opportunity.
