MOU between KTMW and PNG Government
PUBLISHED December 2023
Representatives from the PNG Government and the KTMW Board signed an MOU for future PNG representation at our Kokoda Day service!
Recently the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway further strengthened links with Papua New Guinea, by signing an agreement with PNG Government representatives which will see a traditional cultural group take part in our Kokoda Day service on 3 November each year.
The PNG Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, the Hon. Isi Lenard, and the Governor of the National Capital District Commission, the Hon. Powes Parkop, visited the Walkway in December.
They were given an overview of the Walkway’s history, viewed the virtual reality program in the Ralph Honner Educational Centre, toured the length of the Walkway, viewed the memorial stations, and at the Memorial Centrepiece laid wreaths. They were accompanied by KTMW Chair Jennifer Collins AM and board member Major Charlie Lynn OAM OL.
The PNG delegation signed a memorandum of understanding in which they committed to support the KTMW Kokoda Day commemoration, and also entered into a sister-city arrangement with the City of Canada Bay. The Walkway and Australia’s wartime repatriation hospital, Concord, are located within Canada Bay.
‘We hope the signing of these historic agreements will lead to a plan to replicate the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Ower’s Corner at the start of the Kokoda Track alongside a traditional Koiari tree-house village,” said Mr Lynn. ‘Such a facility would quickly become PNG’s most popular tourist attraction due to its road access from the capital, Port Moresby.’
We look forward to welcoming the PNG cultural group at next year’s Kokoda Day commemorative service on Sunday 3 November 2024.
