Dedication & Opening of the Croll Memorial Precinct

Remarks by President Ron McElwaine on Kokoda Day 2008

Introductory Remarks

On behalf of the 39th Battalion their sister Battalion the 49th the 2/14 Bn. And those who fought on the track, and on behalf of Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone on this the 66th anniversary of Kokoda Day.

I am Ron McElwaine President of the Sherwood/Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch and this morning I will be your Master of Ceremonies.

On this the 66th anniversary of Kokoda battle, we are here to carry on a tradition this RSL Sub-branch started some 35 years ago when Port Moresby RSL SB presented to Sherwood Sub-branch the Kokoda Stone which you see here in front of you. In today’s program you will find a brief history of the rock and the plaque, as well as the years prior to 1973.

On the second Sunday of August we commemorate the Kokoda battle. We are here to commemorate the deeds of these extraordinary veterans. These were ordinary men who did extraordinary deeds. As the years pass, the wonder grows at their achievement. Their deeds were not spoken about until the 60s and 70s. The first book that I am aware of, by Raymond Paul, was published in 1958. They were the men (boys) who started the beginning of the end of Japans victories. Sadly their numbers are dwindling but their spirit is undiminished.

Why continue to Commemorate Kokoda?

I could talk about their battle honours, recount stories about individual deeds but the words of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Honner DSO, MC, (RL), a former commander of the 39th Battalion, Maroubra Force, Honner Force and the 2/14 Battalion, says it all.

"The legend grows as veterans of the Track forgather each Kokoda Day”

But equally important is a promise made by this Sub-Branch to the 39th that we would continue to honour this day long after the last veteran has passed on and we will keep alive the memory of the 39th.

Introduction of Guest Speaker

Soc Kienzle, real name Wallace, son of Capt Bert Kienzle who was in charge of the Kokoda Line of Communication, and all native labour and supply logisitics there-on throughout the Owen Stanley Campaign and on to the Coast at Buna- Gona.

1 Soc is the youngest of four surviving children. His older sister Mary and brother John and wife Helen, will both be there on Sunday, as will Soc's wife Robyn and youngest daughter Suzanne

Soc spent the first 33 years of his life at Kokoda on the family plantation Mamba Estate. He first crossed the Trail at the age of 13 in 33 hours from McDonalds Corner to Kokoda. Over the years, he made many forays over the Track on search and rescue missions, cattle drives and other duties allotted by his father.

Soc left PNG in 1983 and farmed near Allora for 23 years but is now back to his roots at Kokoda, taking people over the Track as an historian. He always loved to hear tales of the War from his father and has more recently devoted his time to learning as much as he can about the Campaign while keeping fit enough to cross the track on a regular basis. Soc is is dedicating his semi-retirement years to getting the truth out there and getting the correct war Trail mapped and reopened. He loves taking people over the Trail who are genuinely interested in the real history of the Campaign.