The 2010 Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge
Gosford RSL Club is proud to sponsor
Mr Hywel Barker of St Philip’s College, Narara.
the participant in the
2010 Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge.
The Challenge was established in 2005 by the RSL & Services Clubs Association of which Gosford RSL Club is a member. The program aims to stretch the young trekkers’ physical and mental boundaries, develop their leadership skills and understand more of our military history on the ten day trek over the 155km wartime trail.
The Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge (KYLC) is a peer group leadership program, developed in consultation with former Army Major, Charlie Lynn, of the trekking company ‘Adventure Kokoda’.
The Challenge is used to encourage young achievers with natural leadership skills. It is also aimed at young people at school or disadvantaged or unemployed young people in the community who are having difficulty in finding their way in society.
Participants in the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge will gain:
· An appreciation of Australia’s military history,
· A respect for the sacrifice made by young Australians of a previous generation,
· An appreciation of a culture whose values are not based on materialism,
· A sense of responsibility for the outcomes of the choices they make,
· An appreciation of the qualities necessary for effective teamwork ie loyalty, trust, honesty, courage, leadership, respect, discipline and sacrifice,
· An understanding of the characteristics of Australian leadership,
· An appreciation of the seven essential understandings of effective leadership (self, others, culture, environment, history, present and future),
· An understanding of the purpose and value of community service.
The Challenge instills in participants a commitment to community service, enhances their personal development by providing an opportunity for them to experience the same conditions under which our diggers fought and, hopefully, transforms them for future leadership roles back in the community.
More than 110 young men and women have made the trek since the project commenced five years ago. That represents an investment of more than $600,000 by clubs in Australia’s youth.
In April, all 14 local high schools were sent documentation on the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge as sponsored by Gosford RSL Club and co-ordinated by RSL & Services Clubs Association. The trek dates were 19th to 30th July.
In early May an article about the club’s sponsorship of the Challenge appeared in the Central Coast Express Advocate. It mentioned that all schools had been invited to nominate an interested student who would fit the selection criteria, including physical fitness and mental endurance.
A number of schools expressed interest and nominated a student. From these nominations, a shortlist was made of students for interview by the club’s Selection Panel. These were held at the schools in mid May. Final interviews were then held at the club in late May.
The student chosen as the 2010 Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge Trekker is Mr Hywel Barker of St Philip’s College, Narara.
It is a requirement of the Challenge that a Reserve Trekker also be selected, in the event of the Trekker’s inability to undertake the Challenge, for any unforeseen reason. The student chosen as the 2010 Reserve Trekker is Mr Blake Castro of St Edward’s College, East Gosford.
Both students are congratulated on their selection.
