Kyabram’s Shylee Donaldson (centre) with fellow Colin Sinclair Kokoda Scholars and State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh after completing training at Mt Ida.
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Kyabram’s Shylee Donaldson is heading to the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea in the term two holidays.
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It is a trip she hopes will give her a greater connection to the grandfather she never met.
The Year 11 St Augustine’s College student is one of five recipients of a Colin Sinclair Kokoda Scholarship this year and has been busy training for the demanding trek ahead.
While she is an enthusiastic hiker, having already conquered her fair share of peaks, including Mt Kooyoora, between Inglewood and Wedderburn, and the Grampians, she knows there’s a much tougher time ahead.
“I am looking for an extra challenge to test myself mentally and physically, to see how well I would respond,” Shylee said.
“I would also really like to see what the soldiers were forced to endure during the Kokoda campaign — the type of terrain they fought through, what their living conditions may have been like and see what they experienced from a firsthand perspective.
St Augustine’s Year 11 student Shylee Donaldson (second from right) with other trekkers on top of Mt Ida.
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“My great-grandfather, Cleaver Spershott Greenslade, was one of the many Australian soldiers who fought in World War II. He was a sergeant with the 2/9 Australian Armoured Regiment and fought in the Battle of Borneo in 1945.
“He completed his training at the Puckapunyal army camp and eventually received the Australian Service Medal (1939-1945) and Pacific Star Service Medal.
“I was never able to meet him as he passed away before I was born, and by doing the Kokoda I am hoping it will help me gain some insight into what his life may have been like and the struggles he may have faced.”
Shylee is also looking forward to visiting Bomana War Cemetery, outside Port Moresby, on the last day of the nine-day trek.
She wants to pay her respects to the many fallen soldiers from across Australia who were unable to return home to their families after fighting to defend their country.
Going down looks a whole lot easier, as Shylee gives the thumbs up coming off the top of Mt Ida near Heathcote.
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“From this experience, I hope to gain better understanding of the struggles our soldiers went through and see just how gruelling the conditions could potentially be,” she said.
“Especially since Kokoda was some of the worst conditions in which to fight.”
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, who organises the Colin Sinclair Scholarship, said it was the support of local businesses and clubs which enabled the students to make this trip.
Mr Walsh said this year money had come from every corner of his electorate.
He said while cost of living had become a major issue, he was determined to ensure the cost of each student’s trip was fully covered.
He thanked the long-time supporters of the trip, including Kyabram Club and Freemasons Foundation Victoria
As part of their preparation for the trip, the students have completed two laps of Mt Ida at Heathcote.
‘’This year’s trekkers did a fabulous job — it’s nothing like the peak they will face on the Kokoda, but it has a very steep climb which is quite testing,” Mr Walsh said.
The also walked Gentle Annie in the Bunyip State Park, south-east of Melbourne.
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