Teenagers from Bridgewater and Huonville high schools will tackle the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea next month thanks to the efforts of Huonville’s Constable Craig Vermey.

Through his work with the Huon Valley PCYC, Constable Vermey made a successful application for a $78,000 Duke of Edinburgh International Award grant to bring the trip to fruition.

Constable Vermey and his Bridgewater-based colleague Senior Constable Byron Howard are two of four supervisors who will travel to Kokoda and accompany the 12 teens on their walk. The constables work forms part of Tasmania Police’s early intervention principles of engaging ‘at risk’ youth.

The students will be completing the ‘Adventurous Journey’ component of the award and their trip was made possible through the Flight Centre Foundation’s sponsorship.

The group departs on July 7 and will have nine days in the mountains, completing memorial services at “Brigade Hill” and a dawn service at the Isurava Memorial.

Each day involves hiking 7-10 hours per day, camping in local villages, visiting the small schools, and enjoying the company of the locals.

Two nights in Port Moresby and a visit to the Bomana War Cemetery, where 3,000 servicemen are buried, will conclude the trip.

Nine of the participants are from Huonville High School and three are from Jordan River Senior School at Bridgewater.

Constable Vermey said:

“These kids would never otherwise get the chance to do something like this.

“They’re all so excited and so enthusiastic about what is to come.

“We’re all currently increasing our strength and fitness by doing regular gym sessions, group fitness classes and bushwalking.

“A walk on a local track to “Sleeping Beauty” covers about six kilometres and a rise of almost 1000 metres in elevation and is giving everyone a taste of what is to come,” he said.