Rotary Club of Toowoomba South Inc.

Toowoomba Kokoda Challenge

Toowoomba Kokoda Challenge 2015

Report from President Graham Newnham

On the 22nd March, the Kokoda Challenge Toowoomba event was run again for the second time in beautiful Redwood and Jubilee Parks. Just on 800 people registered for this years event, which is 60% up in numbers on our inaugural run in 2014. We thank everyone for his or her wonderful support.

So many people have commented about how much they enjoyed the run even though it is a difficult undulating course. This year we had fog, misty rain, mud, sunshine and a cooler than expected day.

This year, our Rotary Club partnered with the Toowoomba Rotaract Club to plan and run the event. On the day, we also involved our three Interact Clubs, St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba Grammar and Centenary Heights High School. This combination, involving our youth programmes, has been a great experience for them and us. All in all, we are delighted with the result.

Hutchinson Builders were our major sponsor. Other important sponsors include Ellipsis Media; 4GR radio and the Toowoomba Prep School. Other sponsors included Woolworths, Toowoomba Chronicle and The Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School.

The 2016 Kokoda Challenge will run again next year with a target of minimum 1000 runners. Get your self ready for this wonderful team building experience.

The proceeds from this event will fund at least 10 young local people at risk into a 12-month training and refocus programme with Kokoda Youth Foundation. This programme has an over 90% success rate at turning young peoples lives around. For more details go to kokodachallenge.com

Weather or not - we're up to the Challenge!

Photo above: After the storms the night before, this is the scene to greet the competitors on the Sunday Morning for the start of the 2015 Toowoomba Kokoda Challenge. Despite the wet weather and muddy conditions, around 800 competitors lined up to face the challenge with the pea soup fog rolling in, reducing the visibility at times to less than 30 meters.

Despite the wet and gloomy start to the day the sun eventually came out, drying out some of the mud, and the day turned out to be an outstanding success.

Photos from the 2015 and 2016 events are available from the links below.

2015 Toowoomba Kokoda Challenge | 2016 Toowoomba Kokoda Challenge

New event in 2017

Note: 2016 was the last year for the Kokoda Challenge and in 2017 it was replaced by a new event - the Milne Bay Military Challenge