OVER the past six months, Rosewood police have partnered with the Kokoda Youth Foundation and the Rosewood High School community in the Kokoda Challenge, On the Right Track program.

Describing the Year 8 and 9 students and the adult supervisors’ involved in the program as the ‘Kokoda family’ is now a common thread in building confidence and fitness capabilities in the students,

The Kokoda family are now in the final stages of the program after recently returning from a five-day adventure in Cairns.

The school’s Student Wellbeing Youth Worker Cassie Ewings said that the Cairns trip was “a once in a life time experience”, that was full of adventure and team building exercises.

On day one the Kokoda family were greeted by local Indigenous Leader, Lync, at Cooya Beach where as a group they explored and settled in for the night around a campfire where Lync shared traditional stories.

“After a night at Cooya Beach we set off to the Mossman Gorge for a guided tour, where we swam in the gorge before walking a small three kilometre circuit,” Cassie said.

“We then travelled back to Cooya Beach to learn how to spear fish and many crabs were caught, cooked and enjoyed.

“On day three, we took part in a river drift experience in the Mossman River and took time to explore the Cairns esplanade.

“In the evening while dinner was cooking, the students had fun playing in the pool, and held a competition about who could make the biggest splash and smallest splash from diving.”

During the last two days, the group visited the turtle rehabilitation centre and snorkelled on Fitzroy Island and visited the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum.

The last stage in the program is set for October 3, when the students will go to Spicers Hidden Vale for their graduation ceremony.