THREE Wangaratta Year 11 students have returned from one of the most grueling treks in the world after eight treacherous days on the Kokoda Trail.

As the inaugural recipients of the Wangaratta RSL Bob Iskov Scholarship, Ella Kidd, Zoe Baguley and Hugh Canning ventured to Papua New Guinea at the beginning of the month to retrace the steps of history.

Starting the journey with 11 students from Gippsland and three Nationals state MPs, the Wangaratta trio walked around 120km of challenging terrain while sleeping in individual tents, visiting marquee battle sites and learning first-hand the resilience and bravery of those who protected the country from Japanese forces more than 80 years before them.

Cathedral College student Ella said experiencing the environment and difficulties faced along her journey offered her a greater perspective for the resilience of the Australian soldiers during battle.

“Completing the trail and seeing how challenging and tough it was, especially in the heat, and to have to do that while being in a battle shows how much strength they had,” she said.

“I think perspective is a huge thing, waking up in the morning knowing what they went through compared to what we went through, knowing they fought those days so we could live our days.”

Despite months of training for the trek in the lead up, Wangaratta High School student Zoe said there was nothing that could’ve prepared her for the hours of uphill climbs and fierce terrain met while on the trail.

“I think it’s pretty amazing how they went over that terrain like it was no worries,” she said.

“It would’ve been crazy how many times they would have gone back and forth and we struggled within the eight days that we did, I can’t believe how they went over it.

“I will probably just be more grateful for what we have and aware of the sacrifices they made for us to live our happy lives.”

The scholarship's namesake, Lieutenant Iskov, a former Wangaratta Shire president and WWII veteran, was cut off by Japanese forces following the Battle of Isurava in August 1942, surviving for 14 days without food before reuniting with Australian forces at the Battle of Brigade Hill – Mission Ridge, one of Kokoda's most famous battles.

Along their trek each student carried the names and details of one Wangaratta soldier who died in the battles at Papua New Guinea in 1942, laying a poppy and taking a picture beside their graves at the Bomana Cemetery, the largest war cemetery in the Pacific.

Galen Catholic College student Hugh said while he found interest in learning about the battle sites and the famous ‘chocos’ nickname for Australian soldiers given by the Japanese, it was an eye opening moment to see the tombstone of a soldier who lived in his hometown.

“It was just crazy to think someone just 20km down the road did that for us to live the life we do today, it was really unreal,” he said.

“You definitely get up every morning now and think ‘wow they did that so we can be here today’, I never thought I’d be doing that before we did the trek but now it’s a bit of a weird feeling, it’s hard to describe.”

Wangaratta RSL sub–branch volunteer coordinator Craig Iskov said the local community and students families were rightly proud of what they have accomplished.

“The scholarship is proving to be a wonderful opportunity for local people and businesses to invest in our future leaders,” he said.

“Ella, Zoe and Hugh completed one of the most physically and emotionally demanding treks in the world; they may have come back exhausted but they are excited to share their experience with their schools and the wider community.”

Mr Iskov said the RSL sub-branch hoped to connect the students with relatives of the three fallen soldiers, John William Dawson from Benalla, John Norman Wilkinson from Wangaratta and Maurice Valli from Oxley to further foster the experience of the students.

The students thanked the sponsors of the scholarship for allowing them the opportunity to experience the trek, Mr Iskov and their Gippsland companions on their journey.

On Wednesday, August 9, the trio will share their Kokoda experiences with a free Q&A panel discussion dinner at the Wangaratta RSL from 7pm, with bookings required.

Anyone with information on family members of the local soldiers, or has any queries on the scholarship, please contact Craig Iskov on 0428 737 788 or by email to kokoda@wangarattarsl.org.au.