By Tanya Faulkner
As the anniversary of Kokoda rolls around for 2023, the significant battle sits at the forefront of Victorian veterans’ minds.
Life member and former committee member of the 39th Battalion Association Alfred Mallia is encouraging locals to brush up on their history and pay respect to the young men who paid the ultimate price at the Kokoda Track campaign in 1942.
The commemorative service, being held on 8 August, is to celebrate the lives of the 100 young men of the 39th battalion, who at the time were too young to join the defence force and Australia’s World War II efforts, yet managed to take back the village of Kokoda against a strong Japanese invasion.
Although the young men were well out-numbered by the Japanese, smart war tactics saw them rise above the Japanese for a short period of time, protecting the Australian borders until their colleagues travelled back from Europe, and helped secure the overall protection of Australia.
Unfortunately, 22 young men of the 39th battalion paid the ultimate price, and lost their lives at the site of the battle.
Mr Mallia, who has organised the commemorative services at One Tree Hill over recent years, said these young men had no idea what they were in for at the time.
“These were young kids, between the ages of 17 and 20 that couldn’t join the defence force, that were sent to port Moresby thinking they were going on a cruise, but it was anything else but that.
“They literally had to shoot someone within weeks of being there,” he said.
For Mr Mallia, the Kokoda Track campaign, also known as “Australia’s Gallipoli” is one of the most significant battles in Australian history, yet there is a lack of knowledge amongst the community.
“It’s the most important battle that Australia has ever undertaken, and yet no one seems to know about it,” he said.
Mr Mallia has made it his mission to spread awareness about Kokoda’s rich history, since he first walked across the Kokoda Track in April 2010.
He said when he arrived in Victoria, he was introduced to captain Alan Moore, a Kokoda Track Veteran, who told him about the battle’s history.
Mr Moore has since passed at the age of 100, in March, 2021.
Since then Mr Mallia, along with several other trekkers from the community, have done what they can to honour those who risked and lost their lives in 1942.
“We erected four cairns in 2014 based on ones found in Papua New Guinea, which [I] designed and made.
“We had the materials donated to create the cairns, which were originally going to be a temporary display, however because they were of sound construction, Parks Victoria have allowed them to stay there permanently.
“The cairns also have plaques that tell the story of the Kokoda Track campaign, and we have 20 information stands about the soldiers with their photos and information, which I rotate once a month,” he said.
The memorial remembers all of the veterans who were part of the Kokoda Track Memorial that lost their lives, not just the ones who didn’t receive the Medal of Bravery, who Mr Mallia tended to be the vets that got the most attention.
He said this helps to give the family gratification that they are getting the public recognition they deserve.
This years’ service, which kicks off at 1pm on 8 August at One Tree Hill, will be a full commemorative service.
Mr Mallia said their guest speaker will be Opposition Leader John Puescutto, and they are also expecting attendance from Belgrave South Primary School, Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, local, state and federal government representatives, as well as family members of the Kokoda Track veterans.
He said it’s a good chance to pay respects, and learn more about what these young men sacrificed for our country.
The service is open to all members of the public.
