June 20, 2025 • 21 mins
This episode is different. It's not about Australian battalions, tactics or commanders. It's about the people who walked beside the diggers. The quiet heroes. The ones who didn't carry rifles, but carried lives. Today, we're talking about the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Apoja Production.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Adventure Professionals
www dot Adventure Professionals dot com dot au.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
For me, Mission Ridge and Brigade Hill. The whole Kakoda campaign.
More people need to know about it. I know everyone
knows someone who's trek Kakoda, but to actually understand the
stories of what these young guys did, it's harrowing what
they went through.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
They were staunched to the end against odds uncountered and
they fell with their faces to the.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Welcome to the Kakoda Track podcast, hosted by former sobject
Glen Asa. This is the place to hear stories from
those who've trecked Kakoda and gained tips of knowledge about
what to expect on the track, or to relive your
own amazing experiences. The Kakoda Track Podcast keeping the spirit
of Kakoda alive.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Welcome back to the Counter Track Podcast. I am Glenasa,
and this episode is different. It's not about Australian battalions,
tactics or commanders. It's not about trekking. It's about the
people who walked beside our diggers, the quiet heroes, the
ones who didn't carry rifles, but carried lives. Today we're
(01:27):
talking about the legendary Fuzzywuzzy Angels. The fuzzywas Angels were
pat New Guinea and civilians, mostly men from the villages
along the Kakata Track, who became the lifeline for Australian
troops during the brutal campaign of nineteen forty two. They
carried the wounded through mud, rain and jungle. They brought
food and supplies up the line and helped evacuate injured
(01:49):
soldiers down treacherous pas. And they did it with an
almost spiritual calm. No training, no uniform, no expectation of thanks,
just service. Australian soldiers gave them that name, the Fuzzy
Wuzzy Angels, partly for the distinctive frizzy hair many of
them had, but more so for the compassion they showed
(02:12):
in the face of horror. And while the term is
historically loaded today, it was then a heartfelt title, a
mix of awe and affection. Of walk Kakoda almost one
hundred times, and the legend and the legacy of the
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels is never far. You feel it in
every step, every village, every story told by the locals.
(02:35):
This episode is dedicated to them, to their memory, and
to their descendants who still walk these trials with the
same strength, humility and heart.
Speaker 6 (02:50):
There was an emotional reunion in Mornington today for two
veterans of the Kokoda Campaign seventy five years ago. One
was a former Australian soldier, the other the last of
the so called Kokoda Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels from New Guineans
who assisted the Australian war effort. Karen Percy reports.
Speaker 7 (03:10):
Across the sea and across the decades. Havala Laoula's first
journey outside of PNG brings him to Mornington in Victoria,
but it's also taken him back seventy five years when
he and others carried supplies and wounded soldiers along the
Kokoda Track, which was then Australian territory. He's the last
(03:31):
of the Kokoda Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, the name given to
the locals who were invaluable to the Second World War effort.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
What do you mean?
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Good to meet you today? He met one of the
last of the thirty ninth Battalion, Alan Kangermore.
Speaker 8 (03:47):
So, he just may have carried me.
Speaker 7 (03:49):
Then Lieutenant Moore was twenty one years old. He got malaria,
dngy fever and dysentery and needed help to get out.
Speaker 8 (03:57):
These boys all understood how to move in the juggle
and we didn't know.
Speaker 9 (04:03):
They had to teach us where they deep.
Speaker 10 (04:06):
So he said, you also supplaced food for the digas,
carrying food up and down.
Speaker 11 (04:12):
And they were brought together through faith through the war
and they had a job to do. And I think
that you know that those bonds are created in war
and they've endured seventy five years.
Speaker 7 (04:25):
Alan Moore has returned to P and G four times
since the war and has paid to educate young villagers.
It's his way of giving back to those he left behind.
Speaker 12 (04:35):
I don't think the carriers were treated very well.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
They were marvelous to us, but I don't think much
was done for them.
Speaker 7 (04:43):
There are no hard feelings here, just the wisdom of age.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
He said, you're old and I'm old, and we meet
for the last time.
Speaker 13 (04:50):
Yes, zo Havala Laula will meet more old Ossie colleagues
that are gathering at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne
on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
Karen Percy ABC.
Speaker 10 (05:03):
News Melbourne.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
As the years pass on and the number of living
Cocoda veterans has faded, the memory of the Fuzzuwazy Angels
continues to live on, but not just in our national consciousness,
also in the hearts and homes of the people of
Papua New Guinea. There's something powerful about legacy. It's not
just about remembering, it's about living the values of those
(05:28):
who came before, and in Papua New Guinea today, you
don't have to look too far to find that legacy
alive and well. The porters who helped trekkers across the
Kokoda tract today, many of them sons and grandsons of
the very men who carried Australian soldiers to safety in
nineteen forty two, carry themselves with immense pride. They know
(05:48):
the stories, they know the sacrifices, and they walk that
same trail with a sense of quiet honor. They like
to be referred to as the modern day Fuzzuwazi Angels,
and rightfully so, because what they do today mirror is
what the ancestors did during the war. They carry the
head loads, they guide the uncertain, They cook meals over
open fires. They pitched tents in the rain, They wait
(06:12):
patiently for the slowest trekker. They lend a hand without
ever being asked, and they do it with a calm,
respectful presence that never asked for praise. When you walk
the track today, these men and women are your backbone,
your morale, your support crew in every sense of the word.
And they do it not just for the money, but
(06:33):
for the pride of carrying forward a tradition that shaped
their national identity. I've spoken with dozens of them over
the years, and again and again, the message is the same.
We are proud to be a part of this story.
We are proud of our grandfathers. We want a strain
to know that we still care, and they do. I
remember one porter in particular, his name was Moses, and
(06:54):
we were like halfway up a steep ascent out of
off Her Creek. The group was tired, morale was low,
and there was a young trek around that fifteen or
sixteen years of age that's just started to panic a
little bit. His breathing was short, there's a few tears
in his eyes. I could kind of sense that he
wanted to quit. Without a word, Moses stepped in, took
the young bloke's backpack, put a hand on his shoulder
(07:16):
and just walked beside him for the next couple of hours.
Didn't say much, just stay close, calm, present, And that
night were at camp, the young bloke said to me,
I wouldn't have made it without him. And that's what
the modern day angels do. They carry more than gear.
They carry people, emotions, struggles, and they hold space for
other people to grow. As we continue, it's important to
(07:39):
acknowledge that the relationship between Australians and put New Guineas
during the Kakoda campaign was not without complexity. Yes, there
was deep gratitude and human connection, but there was also
a legacy of colonialism, of power imbalances, and of decisions
made by governance that rarely involved the voices of the
people who lived in those villages. Many of the Papia
(08:00):
men who served as Fuzzy as the Angels were recruited
through local administrators or missionaries. Some volunteered, driven by law
to or compassion. Others were volunteld given little choice but
to support the war effort that had suddenly landed in
their homeland. Yet despite this imbalance of power, what emerged
was a rare and beautiful example of humanity triumphing over politics.
(08:24):
These villagers didn't have to care for Australian soldiers, but
they did, and they did so with grace, humility, and
quiet strength. There were countless stories of veterans describing how
these men seemed to appear out of nowhere, just when
they needed help the most. And they didn't just carry soldiers.
They carried messages, they delivered food, They helped evacuate civilians.
(08:46):
They shared knowledge of the train that became critical to
australians survival. In many ways, they were the silent enablers
of victory, and yet for decades after the war, their
contributions were overlooked by official history. They didn't receive veterans benefits,
they weren't invited to commemorate events, their names didn't appear
in the books. It's only in recent years that Australia
(09:10):
has begun to reckon with that omission. There have been ceremonies,
memorials and efforts to document their stories. But for many,
the recognition came too late. They'd already passed on, leaving
behind families who carried the memory, but little else. And
that's why this episode matters. That's why I'm telling you
these stories because remembrance is a form of justice. Now,
(09:35):
I want to take a moment to talk directly to
those who've never walked the track but are thinking about it.
Maybe you've heard about Kakata from a mate, maybe you've
seen the documentaries, or maybe you're just curious, what's the
big deal? This is the big deal. You don't just
walk in the footsteps of soldiers. You walk in the
footsteps of the Fazuwazi angels. At every village, you're greeted
(09:57):
by descendants of those who helped save lives in nineteen
forty two. And that's not an abstract thought. That's real.
The bloodlines are unbroken, the stories passed down from father
to son, mother to daughter. When you walk into places
like Kagi a foggy Minari, you're not walking into tourist destinations.
You're walking into living history. You're walking into communities that
(10:20):
still feel the weight of what their ancestors gave and
what they continue to give. And when you stop for
a break and one of the porters share some you know,
some of his food, or helps you across the river,
or offers to carry a pack without a complaint, that's
not just hospitality, that's tradition, that's legacy, that's culture alive.
(10:40):
In the moment, a couple of.
Speaker 14 (10:45):
Bee Company bikes appeared on the truck coming back, and
they came back of awful stories about a great hold
of Japanese assaulting of the other and kids. And they
all came to that.
Speaker 10 (10:59):
And indeed, I missed from dat all user that we.
Speaker 14 (11:08):
Live our related and went away.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
To bush load of our.
Speaker 14 (11:17):
She said.
Speaker 10 (11:18):
They were all skid skidded and.
Speaker 11 (11:22):
Licking with more.
Speaker 10 (11:24):
Only the breath ments would more only look for food.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But the ladies and young kids, they were.
Speaker 8 (11:31):
All natives at this time, were doing marvelously well. They
were fantastic and we had a minimum of food, but
it were return out were sufficient daily way, and this
was all supplied by the natives. Of course, the position
got more serious when the wounded started to company.
Speaker 15 (11:52):
Hundreds of wounded men had to be carried back over
the mountains to be treated in dressing stations or field
hospitals spread along the track. Many of them would have
died were it not for the Papia New Guinean stretcher bearers,
famous known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, Their devotion to Australian
(12:14):
soldiers was often heroic.
Speaker 10 (12:16):
Nod a Beli, CaCO, older Himano walker killer alcor like America.
Ooh yes, ooh yes it.
Speaker 11 (12:34):
This was.
Speaker 12 (12:40):
Two natives came over, put me on the stretcher and
carried me out. There was a river down below, and
they went down to the river and they brought a drink,
drink of water over in a leaf and put it
down my mouth. And they were so gentle. Mhm.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The legend has it that the fuzzy Wuzzies volunteered their services,
came down from their mountain villages with garlands of flowers
and their muscles to drag the Astralian wounded out of
the battlefields. In reality, this didn't happen. The fuzzy wuzzy
angels were indentured labor slave labor. Effect. They were corralled
(13:30):
and depends. They were loaded up with supplies to carry
over the track, and then they were dispatched to the
battlefields to drag out the wounded to carry them back
over the mountains. After Ishuava, only thirty percent of those
fuzzy wizes turned up for the job. Seventy percent when Awa.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
Oh no, Lady.
Speaker 10 (13:55):
No matter to be able to back Kotakema, but dead dead.
Speaker 9 (14:03):
I remember the fellow that was in charge, he got
a stare one not He said, now look, if these
fellows run away, I want you to shoot them, shoot
them dead, you know, because if you don't do that,
they're all about you know that. We were realized at that,
But they stared with.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Us increasingly, some of the fuzzies was he did so voluntarily,
and we saw the legend born of that small number
who could see that they wanted the wa to be
won by Australia.
Speaker 14 (14:35):
He carries the supplies and also those who were shot also.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
I wonder soul this.
Speaker 14 (14:43):
There are four people who are capable enough to carry us.
Put on a.
Speaker 11 (14:47):
Stretcher and they have to put on the seats and.
Speaker 14 (14:49):
Then they carry him, of course. And then for the
other things like a cacos, we have to carry one one.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
It's all in the hips.
Speaker 8 (14:58):
Two years.
Speaker 11 (15:08):
Ah.
Speaker 14 (15:08):
The nineties were great. They were good carriers. They were
might to carry. They weren't volunteers, as you might might believe.
Al and gear chaps were slave drivers. Really. They had
(15:29):
to go from village to village, drop the stuff and
get back. It was hard on 'em and they had
done a mighty job. As they didn't there was nothing
wrong with that. They'd get a whack. But a lot
of them went push too. Like you never hear of
that much of 'em. A lot of 'em went push.
(15:49):
We were we was added ors. We they were had
the on the guy to get the supplies to us.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Let me share something personal with you. Over the years,
I've had the privilege of walking Kakoda with thousands of Australians,
young and old, veterans and first timers. But regardless of
what brought them to the track, one experience unites them all.
A moment somewhere between the sweat, the blisters and the doubt,
when they encountered the porters doing something kind, and that
(16:27):
moment sticks. I remember one woman in particular, mid fifties.
She trained really hard, was quite fit, but on day
three her knees fled up, which isn't unusual on Cokoda.
Doubt crept in. One of the porters, Dan he stayed
beside her, didn't speak much English, but he didn't need to.
He just walked with her. Every now and then he'd
smile and say strong plemette, which means strong women. By
(16:51):
the end she was a different person. And when we
flew out of Kakoda, she said to me, you know,
Daniel taught me more about grace than any seminar I've
ever been to. And that's the impact of these men.
Let's step back for a moment, acknowledged the weight of
history and the gift we've been given. The story of
the Faotowasi Angels isn't just a tale of World War II.
(17:12):
It's a human story, a story of people rising to
meet suffering with service. In the years since the war,
Australian Partment AGAINNI have continued to share a complex and
evolving relationship. But the story of Kakoda gives us a
chance to shape the future on stronger ground, built not
on hierarchy, but on humility and honor. They never asked
(17:35):
to be called angels, they never demanded statues. But when
you walk Kakoda today, you'll see something better than stone memorials,
the way Australians look at their porters with gratitude. As
I bring this episode to a close, I want to
leave you with something practical. Kakota is not a casual trek,
(17:56):
It's not a photo op. It's a pilgrimage, and that's
why when you decide to take on this journey, you
owe it to yourself and to them to do it right.
And that's where we come in. My team, Heidi, Kine, Brian,
Sammy and Mick. They aren't just logistical staff. They live
and breathe this track. And we're not doing this alone.
(18:17):
We walk side by side with our pang brothers, Killer, Skyven, Abetty,
Ivan Oddie. These men are more than porters. They are
in every sense, the modern day fuzzy wuzzy angels. When
you come with us, you're stepping into a living story.
You bring the willingness, we'll bring the experience. Let's walk
it together with purpose, with pride, and with a deep
(18:40):
respect for the angels who still walk among us, For myself,
for Millie, for our company. We would love nothing more
than to have the opportunity to take you on this
experience as it's intended, raw real, opening up the country,
the people, the history to make sure that you have
an absolute experience of a lifetime. So reach out Glenn
(19:03):
with two ends at adventure Professionals dot com dot you,
or to info adadventure Professionals dot com dot you and
We would love to share this journey.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
With you, right.
Speaker 8 (19:18):
Ellasin Harpuzosobe Fee.
Speaker 16 (19:24):
Racing, bond, dam visits.
Speaker 12 (19:27):
And.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
The bond between Ossie's and the people of Papu and
New Guinea was forged in war and it endures in peace.
We've felt that friendliness, that special connection in the comforting
presence of our porters and in every small community along
the Kakoda Track.
Speaker 12 (19:56):
Who we.
Speaker 17 (20:16):
Okay, guys, thanks for tuning in. It would be awesome
if you'd share this with anyone you know that's going
to the Kakoda Track or that has been and has
a keen interest in the track. It's people and those
that choose to track it. The Pillars of b Sharaba say, courage, endurance,
makeshif and sacrifice great words to live by, and this
podcast will offer makeshift and a place for those that
live and love the CoA Coda Track experience. Until next episode,
(20:38):
live a life that inspires you and those around you,
and remember to take time out to think about.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
What's really important, what's really important?
Speaker 10 (20:45):
What's really important?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Thanks fellow stake to the Kakoda Track podcast. To get
it touched or stay up to date, go to Kakoda
Track podcast on Facebook or email Glen at Adventure Professionals
dot com dot A. You don't forget to subscribe and
share with your friends. Let's keep the spirit at the
Stories of Kakota at the P ANDNG people alive.
Speaker 16 (21:09):
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(21:29):
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(21:50):
dot com dot AU. At Adventure Professionals, we put the
world at your feet.
Apoja Production.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Adventure Professionals
www dot Adventure Professionals dot com dot au.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
For me, Mission Ridge and Brigade Hill. The whole Kakoda campaign.
More people need to know about it. I know everyone
knows someone who's trek Kakoda, but to actually understand the
stories of what these young guys did, it's harrowing what
they went through.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
They were staunched to the end against odds uncountered and
they fell with their faces to the.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Welcome to the Kakoda Track podcast, hosted by former sobject
Glen Asa. This is the place to hear stories from
those who've trecked Kakoda and gained tips of knowledge about
what to expect on the track, or to relive your
own amazing experiences. The Kakoda Track Podcast keeping the spirit
of Kakoda alive.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Welcome back to the Counter Track Podcast. I am Glenasa,
and this episode is different. It's not about Australian battalions,
tactics or commanders. It's not about trekking. It's about the
people who walked beside our diggers, the quiet heroes, the
ones who didn't carry rifles, but carried lives. Today we're
(01:27):
talking about the legendary Fuzzywuzzy Angels. The fuzzywas Angels were
pat New Guinea and civilians, mostly men from the villages
along the Kakata Track, who became the lifeline for Australian
troops during the brutal campaign of nineteen forty two. They
carried the wounded through mud, rain and jungle. They brought
food and supplies up the line and helped evacuate injured
(01:49):
soldiers down treacherous pas. And they did it with an
almost spiritual calm. No training, no uniform, no expectation of thanks,
just service. Australian soldiers gave them that name, the Fuzzy
Wuzzy Angels, partly for the distinctive frizzy hair many of
them had, but more so for the compassion they showed
(02:12):
in the face of horror. And while the term is
historically loaded today, it was then a heartfelt title, a
mix of awe and affection. Of walk Kakoda almost one
hundred times, and the legend and the legacy of the
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels is never far. You feel it in
every step, every village, every story told by the locals.
(02:35):
This episode is dedicated to them, to their memory, and
to their descendants who still walk these trials with the
same strength, humility and heart.
Speaker 6 (02:50):
There was an emotional reunion in Mornington today for two
veterans of the Kokoda Campaign seventy five years ago. One
was a former Australian soldier, the other the last of
the so called Kokoda Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels from New Guineans
who assisted the Australian war effort. Karen Percy reports.
Speaker 7 (03:10):
Across the sea and across the decades. Havala Laoula's first
journey outside of PNG brings him to Mornington in Victoria,
but it's also taken him back seventy five years when
he and others carried supplies and wounded soldiers along the
Kokoda Track, which was then Australian territory. He's the last
(03:31):
of the Kokoda Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, the name given to
the locals who were invaluable to the Second World War effort.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
What do you mean?
Speaker 7 (03:40):
Good to meet you today? He met one of the
last of the thirty ninth Battalion, Alan Kangermore.
Speaker 8 (03:47):
So, he just may have carried me.
Speaker 7 (03:49):
Then Lieutenant Moore was twenty one years old. He got malaria,
dngy fever and dysentery and needed help to get out.
Speaker 8 (03:57):
These boys all understood how to move in the juggle
and we didn't know.
Speaker 9 (04:03):
They had to teach us where they deep.
Speaker 10 (04:06):
So he said, you also supplaced food for the digas,
carrying food up and down.
Speaker 11 (04:12):
And they were brought together through faith through the war
and they had a job to do. And I think
that you know that those bonds are created in war
and they've endured seventy five years.
Speaker 7 (04:25):
Alan Moore has returned to P and G four times
since the war and has paid to educate young villagers.
It's his way of giving back to those he left behind.
Speaker 12 (04:35):
I don't think the carriers were treated very well.
Speaker 8 (04:38):
They were marvelous to us, but I don't think much
was done for them.
Speaker 7 (04:43):
There are no hard feelings here, just the wisdom of age.
Speaker 9 (04:47):
He said, you're old and I'm old, and we meet
for the last time.
Speaker 13 (04:50):
Yes, zo Havala Laula will meet more old Ossie colleagues
that are gathering at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne
on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (05:01):
Karen Percy ABC.
Speaker 10 (05:03):
News Melbourne.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
As the years pass on and the number of living
Cocoda veterans has faded, the memory of the Fuzzuwazy Angels
continues to live on, but not just in our national consciousness,
also in the hearts and homes of the people of
Papua New Guinea. There's something powerful about legacy. It's not
just about remembering, it's about living the values of those
(05:28):
who came before, and in Papua New Guinea today, you
don't have to look too far to find that legacy
alive and well. The porters who helped trekkers across the
Kokoda tract today, many of them sons and grandsons of
the very men who carried Australian soldiers to safety in
nineteen forty two, carry themselves with immense pride. They know
(05:48):
the stories, they know the sacrifices, and they walk that
same trail with a sense of quiet honor. They like
to be referred to as the modern day Fuzzuwazi Angels,
and rightfully so, because what they do today mirror is
what the ancestors did during the war. They carry the
head loads, they guide the uncertain, They cook meals over
open fires. They pitched tents in the rain, They wait
(06:12):
patiently for the slowest trekker. They lend a hand without
ever being asked, and they do it with a calm,
respectful presence that never asked for praise. When you walk
the track today, these men and women are your backbone,
your morale, your support crew in every sense of the word.
And they do it not just for the money, but
(06:33):
for the pride of carrying forward a tradition that shaped
their national identity. I've spoken with dozens of them over
the years, and again and again, the message is the same.
We are proud to be a part of this story.
We are proud of our grandfathers. We want a strain
to know that we still care, and they do. I
remember one porter in particular, his name was Moses, and
(06:54):
we were like halfway up a steep ascent out of
off Her Creek. The group was tired, morale was low,
and there was a young trek around that fifteen or
sixteen years of age that's just started to panic a
little bit. His breathing was short, there's a few tears
in his eyes. I could kind of sense that he
wanted to quit. Without a word, Moses stepped in, took
the young bloke's backpack, put a hand on his shoulder
(07:16):
and just walked beside him for the next couple of hours.
Didn't say much, just stay close, calm, present, And that
night were at camp, the young bloke said to me,
I wouldn't have made it without him. And that's what
the modern day angels do. They carry more than gear.
They carry people, emotions, struggles, and they hold space for
other people to grow. As we continue, it's important to
(07:39):
acknowledge that the relationship between Australians and put New Guineas
during the Kakoda campaign was not without complexity. Yes, there
was deep gratitude and human connection, but there was also
a legacy of colonialism, of power imbalances, and of decisions
made by governance that rarely involved the voices of the
people who lived in those villages. Many of the Papia
(08:00):
men who served as Fuzzy as the Angels were recruited
through local administrators or missionaries. Some volunteered, driven by law
to or compassion. Others were volunteld given little choice but
to support the war effort that had suddenly landed in
their homeland. Yet despite this imbalance of power, what emerged
was a rare and beautiful example of humanity triumphing over politics.
(08:24):
These villagers didn't have to care for Australian soldiers, but
they did, and they did so with grace, humility, and
quiet strength. There were countless stories of veterans describing how
these men seemed to appear out of nowhere, just when
they needed help the most. And they didn't just carry soldiers.
They carried messages, they delivered food, They helped evacuate civilians.
(08:46):
They shared knowledge of the train that became critical to
australians survival. In many ways, they were the silent enablers
of victory, and yet for decades after the war, their
contributions were overlooked by official history. They didn't receive veterans benefits,
they weren't invited to commemorate events, their names didn't appear
in the books. It's only in recent years that Australia
(09:10):
has begun to reckon with that omission. There have been ceremonies,
memorials and efforts to document their stories. But for many,
the recognition came too late. They'd already passed on, leaving
behind families who carried the memory, but little else. And
that's why this episode matters. That's why I'm telling you
these stories because remembrance is a form of justice. Now,
(09:35):
I want to take a moment to talk directly to
those who've never walked the track but are thinking about it.
Maybe you've heard about Kakata from a mate, maybe you've
seen the documentaries, or maybe you're just curious, what's the
big deal? This is the big deal. You don't just
walk in the footsteps of soldiers. You walk in the
footsteps of the Fazuwazi angels. At every village, you're greeted
(09:57):
by descendants of those who helped save lives in nineteen
forty two. And that's not an abstract thought. That's real.
The bloodlines are unbroken, the stories passed down from father
to son, mother to daughter. When you walk into places
like Kagi a foggy Minari, you're not walking into tourist destinations.
You're walking into living history. You're walking into communities that
(10:20):
still feel the weight of what their ancestors gave and
what they continue to give. And when you stop for
a break and one of the porters share some you know,
some of his food, or helps you across the river,
or offers to carry a pack without a complaint, that's
not just hospitality, that's tradition, that's legacy, that's culture alive.
(10:40):
In the moment, a couple of.
Speaker 14 (10:45):
Bee Company bikes appeared on the truck coming back, and
they came back of awful stories about a great hold
of Japanese assaulting of the other and kids. And they
all came to that.
Speaker 10 (10:59):
And indeed, I missed from dat all user that we.
Speaker 14 (11:08):
Live our related and went away.
Speaker 8 (11:10):
To bush load of our.
Speaker 14 (11:17):
She said.
Speaker 10 (11:18):
They were all skid skidded and.
Speaker 11 (11:22):
Licking with more.
Speaker 10 (11:24):
Only the breath ments would more only look for food.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But the ladies and young kids, they were.
Speaker 8 (11:31):
All natives at this time, were doing marvelously well. They
were fantastic and we had a minimum of food, but
it were return out were sufficient daily way, and this
was all supplied by the natives. Of course, the position
got more serious when the wounded started to company.
Speaker 15 (11:52):
Hundreds of wounded men had to be carried back over
the mountains to be treated in dressing stations or field
hospitals spread along the track. Many of them would have
died were it not for the Papia New Guinean stretcher bearers,
famous known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, Their devotion to Australian
(12:14):
soldiers was often heroic.
Speaker 10 (12:16):
Nod a Beli, CaCO, older Himano walker killer alcor like America.
Ooh yes, ooh yes it.
Speaker 11 (12:34):
This was.
Speaker 12 (12:40):
Two natives came over, put me on the stretcher and
carried me out. There was a river down below, and
they went down to the river and they brought a drink,
drink of water over in a leaf and put it
down my mouth. And they were so gentle. Mhm.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The legend has it that the fuzzy Wuzzies volunteered their services,
came down from their mountain villages with garlands of flowers
and their muscles to drag the Astralian wounded out of
the battlefields. In reality, this didn't happen. The fuzzy wuzzy
angels were indentured labor slave labor. Effect. They were corralled
(13:30):
and depends. They were loaded up with supplies to carry
over the track, and then they were dispatched to the
battlefields to drag out the wounded to carry them back
over the mountains. After Ishuava, only thirty percent of those
fuzzy wizes turned up for the job. Seventy percent when Awa.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
Oh no, Lady.
Speaker 10 (13:55):
No matter to be able to back Kotakema, but dead dead.
Speaker 9 (14:03):
I remember the fellow that was in charge, he got
a stare one not He said, now look, if these
fellows run away, I want you to shoot them, shoot
them dead, you know, because if you don't do that,
they're all about you know that. We were realized at that,
But they stared with.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Us increasingly, some of the fuzzies was he did so voluntarily,
and we saw the legend born of that small number
who could see that they wanted the wa to be
won by Australia.
Speaker 14 (14:35):
He carries the supplies and also those who were shot also.
Speaker 8 (14:42):
I wonder soul this.
Speaker 14 (14:43):
There are four people who are capable enough to carry us.
Put on a.
Speaker 11 (14:47):
Stretcher and they have to put on the seats and.
Speaker 14 (14:49):
Then they carry him, of course. And then for the
other things like a cacos, we have to carry one one.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
It's all in the hips.
Speaker 8 (14:58):
Two years.
Speaker 11 (15:08):
Ah.
Speaker 14 (15:08):
The nineties were great. They were good carriers. They were
might to carry. They weren't volunteers, as you might might believe.
Al and gear chaps were slave drivers. Really. They had
(15:29):
to go from village to village, drop the stuff and
get back. It was hard on 'em and they had
done a mighty job. As they didn't there was nothing
wrong with that. They'd get a whack. But a lot
of them went push too. Like you never hear of
that much of 'em. A lot of 'em went push.
(15:49):
We were we was added ors. We they were had
the on the guy to get the supplies to us.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Let me share something personal with you. Over the years,
I've had the privilege of walking Kakoda with thousands of Australians,
young and old, veterans and first timers. But regardless of
what brought them to the track, one experience unites them all.
A moment somewhere between the sweat, the blisters and the doubt,
when they encountered the porters doing something kind, and that
(16:27):
moment sticks. I remember one woman in particular, mid fifties.
She trained really hard, was quite fit, but on day
three her knees fled up, which isn't unusual on Cokoda.
Doubt crept in. One of the porters, Dan he stayed
beside her, didn't speak much English, but he didn't need to.
He just walked with her. Every now and then he'd
smile and say strong plemette, which means strong women. By
(16:51):
the end she was a different person. And when we
flew out of Kakoda, she said to me, you know,
Daniel taught me more about grace than any seminar I've
ever been to. And that's the impact of these men.
Let's step back for a moment, acknowledged the weight of
history and the gift we've been given. The story of
the Faotowasi Angels isn't just a tale of World War II.
(17:12):
It's a human story, a story of people rising to
meet suffering with service. In the years since the war,
Australian Partment AGAINNI have continued to share a complex and
evolving relationship. But the story of Kakoda gives us a
chance to shape the future on stronger ground, built not
on hierarchy, but on humility and honor. They never asked
(17:35):
to be called angels, they never demanded statues. But when
you walk Kakoda today, you'll see something better than stone memorials,
the way Australians look at their porters with gratitude. As
I bring this episode to a close, I want to
leave you with something practical. Kakota is not a casual trek,
(17:56):
It's not a photo op. It's a pilgrimage, and that's
why when you decide to take on this journey, you
owe it to yourself and to them to do it right.
And that's where we come in. My team, Heidi, Kine, Brian,
Sammy and Mick. They aren't just logistical staff. They live
and breathe this track. And we're not doing this alone.
(18:17):
We walk side by side with our pang brothers, Killer, Skyven, Abetty,
Ivan Oddie. These men are more than porters. They are
in every sense, the modern day fuzzy wuzzy angels. When
you come with us, you're stepping into a living story.
You bring the willingness, we'll bring the experience. Let's walk
it together with purpose, with pride, and with a deep
(18:40):
respect for the angels who still walk among us, For myself,
for Millie, for our company. We would love nothing more
than to have the opportunity to take you on this
experience as it's intended, raw real, opening up the country,
the people, the history to make sure that you have
an absolute experience of a lifetime. So reach out Glenn
(19:03):
with two ends at adventure Professionals dot com dot you,
or to info adadventure Professionals dot com dot you and
We would love to share this journey.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
With you, right.
Speaker 8 (19:18):
Ellasin Harpuzosobe Fee.
Speaker 16 (19:24):
Racing, bond, dam visits.
Speaker 12 (19:27):
And.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
The bond between Ossie's and the people of Papu and
New Guinea was forged in war and it endures in peace.
We've felt that friendliness, that special connection in the comforting
presence of our porters and in every small community along
the Kakoda Track.
Speaker 12 (19:56):
Who we.
Speaker 17 (20:16):
Okay, guys, thanks for tuning in. It would be awesome
if you'd share this with anyone you know that's going
to the Kakoda Track or that has been and has
a keen interest in the track. It's people and those
that choose to track it. The Pillars of b Sharaba say, courage, endurance,
makeshif and sacrifice great words to live by, and this
podcast will offer makeshift and a place for those that
live and love the CoA Coda Track experience. Until next episode,
(20:38):
live a life that inspires you and those around you,
and remember to take time out to think about.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
What's really important, what's really important?
Speaker 10 (20:45):
What's really important?
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Thanks fellow stake to the Kakoda Track podcast. To get
it touched or stay up to date, go to Kakoda
Track podcast on Facebook or email Glen at Adventure Professionals
dot com dot A. You don't forget to subscribe and
share with your friends. Let's keep the spirit at the
Stories of Kakota at the P ANDNG people alive.
Speaker 16 (21:09):
Book now and pay later with Adventure Professionals interest free Adventures.
Whatever your adventure, whether you want to climb, track, dog
sled or any of our amazing adventures, you can book
them now and pay later. There's no more waiting around.
Our interest free adventure offer is a quick and easy process.
(21:29):
You will usually have confirmation within twenty four hours. Then
it's time to get your passport ready because you'll be
on your way. Don't break your bank for your next adventure.
Keep control of your cash flow. Life's too short not
to take that holiday and enjoy that adventure. Contact us
and let us help you out. Info at adventure Professionals
(21:50):
dot com dot AU. At Adventure Professionals, we put the
world at your feet.
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