Hyne Timber is extending financial support to assist with the funding of 17 Tumbarumba High School students participating in this year’s trek of the Kokoda Trail. Hyne Timber presented a $10,000 cheque to the Rotary Club of Tumbarumba for the Kokoda Trail experience.

Hyne Timber Manufacturing Manager, Chris Skeels-Piggins explains that the Kokoda Trail experience is an excellent individual development opportunity with significant community support, which the company has proudly sponsored since its inception in 2007. The 2015 trek will be the fifth Kokoda Trail experience supported by Hyne Timber.

Hyne Timber’s support for the students has benefitted several of their employees’ children, which isn’t surprising given that the company is one of the larger employers in the town. Hyne Timber also encourages their staff to accompany these students as guides and supervisors on the Kokoda Trail experience. This year Bruce Wright, Site Services Manager and Judy Kelso, Dispatch Officer will be accompanying the students.

For the 2015 Kokoda Trail trek, Year 11 and 12 students have been training and fundraising in anticipation of the two-week experience, which will see them walk the Kokoda Trail along local villages, while exploring the Isurava Battlefield Memorial, the Eora Creek battle site, the Brigade Hill Memorial and many other historic sites. Upon completion, the students will visit Bomana War Cemetery and the sights of Port Moresby.

Fundraising efforts towards this biennial experience requires significant community involvement through charity dinners and community functions, ‘trekathons’, catering for the Bridge Congress, Tumbafest food stalls, stage plays, clean up Australia Day and catering at the Lions Club New Year’s Day BBQ.