{"id":140537,"date":"2016-04-01T02:22:27","date_gmt":"2016-03-31T16:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=140537"},"modified":"2020-10-19T14:38:48","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T04:38:48","slug":"kokoda-comes-to-kingaroy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/04\/01\/kokoda-comes-to-kingaroy\/","title":{"rendered":"Kokoda Comes To Kingaroy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Peter Ranasinghe and Brett Whitewood with part of the display now in Kingaroy Library<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett residents Peter Ranasinghe and Brett Whitewood are gearing up for some special Anzac week talks, which explains why parts of Kingaroy Library have taken on a distinct Melanesian feel at the moment.<\/p>\n

Peter is a guide with “No Roads Expeditions” and regularly takes groups along the historic – and challenging – Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n

Brett is one of six local residents who joined Peter on one of his recent walks.<\/p>\n

Together they will be sharing their experiences in two talks at Kingaroy Library later this month.<\/p>\n

On April 27, the pair will be speaking to a group of Year 10 Kingaroy State High School students who have been studying Kokoda at school.<\/p>\n

Peter said the military history of the Track would be covered but there would also be a strong message that “if you want to do it, you can if you put your mind to it”.<\/p>\n

He said the talks would also emphasise respect for the cultures of the people of PNG.<\/p>\n

The public talk will start at 10:00am on Thursday, April 28.<\/p>\n

“The general talk will be a bit different. It will be more about the military history because older people are more likely to have a military connection to the Track,” Peter said.<\/p>\n

He will speak about the young Australians who lie in the military cemeteries along the track, but also about the horrors the war inflicted on the people of PNG.<\/p>\n

Peter and Brett have erected displays of paintings, flags and photographs in the library ahead of the two talks.<\/p>\n

The library staff have also mounted displays of books and videos about Kokoda which will be available for loan.<\/p>\n