TREKKING TRIP OF A LIFETIME FOR YOUNG LILLY
GOLD Coast student Lilly Caulfield has become the youngest person to trek the original 39th Battalion routes in Papua New Guinea during a memorable school holiday adventure.
The 14-year-old also completed the 96km Kokoda Track during the overseas trip while accompanied by proud dad Darren.
She estimates walking “just a bit over 210km” in the space of 12 days while carrying a 6kg backpack.
“The Kokoda Track was definitely very, very hard as you had to keep going up and down very steep hills,” Lilly said. “We were the first ones to walk the 39th Battalion routes in 10 years.”
The horse rider and tennis player went to an Anzac Day dawn ceremony at Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby to pay respect to fallen soldiers.
Between trekking and meeting people at different villages, nights were spent on a thin yoga mat laid out inside a tent.
The aspiring teacher, now undertaking Year 9 at Coomera Anglican College, returned home with rest at the top of her to-do list.
“I came back really appreciating everything I have, like hot water and flushing toilets,” she said.
“We have been learning about World War Two in history so hopefully my experience will help with my assignments.”
The 39th Battalion tracks were discovered by Major Charlie Lynn, who led Lilly and her dad.