The 68th anniversary of the raising of the Australian flag on the Kokoda plateau was commemorated at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Rhodes Park, Concord on Wednesday, 3 November 2010.
'This event should be as important to Australian history as the raising of the American flag at Iwa Jima is to American history' according to the Chairman of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Rusty Priest.
'We have proclaimed this event as 'Kokoda Day' because of the historical significance of the event.
'Australia's fate hung in the balance during the dark days of the Kokoda campaign from July to November 1942.
'It was the first time Australian territory had been invaded by a seemingly invincible foreign aggressor superior in numbers, weaponry and fanatical desire to obey and die for their Emperor.
'Our Australian troops absorbed everything the advancing Japanese army could throw at them across the formidable Owen Stanley Ranges in Papua New Guinea.
They rallied at the last line of defence around Imita Ridge on the doorstep of Port Moresby and eventually drove the Japanese back across the mountains and recaptured Kokoda on the 2nd November 1942.
The Australian flag was raised at a historic parade with General George Vasey the following day.
'The spell of invincibility of the Japanese army had been broken by the Australians.
'But we should remember that the flag would never have been raised at Kokoda if the allied naval forces had not defeated the Japanese at the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway.
It would not have been raised if the air force had not bombed battleships and landing craft on the northern beaches of Papua New Guinea.
It would not have been raised if the Americans and Australians had not defeated the amphibious landings at Milne Bay.
'We must also never forget that we would have been defeated in the jungles of Papua New Guinea if it had not been for the local wartime carriers - the legendary 'fuzzy-wuzzy angels'.
Tragically the sacrifices of these wonderful people have never been officially recognised by the Australian government.
They never even received a campaign medal for their service.
'We have therefore proclaimed Kokoda Day on the 3rd November and have dedicated it to the memory of the PNG wartime carriers.
'We hope that Kokoda Day will one day be officially proclaimed by the Australian government and rank as importantly as Anzac Day because at Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost but at Kokoda we fought for Australia and won' said Rusty Priest.
The official speaker at the 2010 Kokoda Day service was Charlie Lynn who has trekked Kokoda 59 times over the past 19 years.
The flag was raised by Don Oughtred, a Kokoda veteran.
The ceremony included a performance by a local PNG cultural group.
'This event should be as important to Australian history as the raising of the American flag at Iwa Jima is to American history' according to the Chairman of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Rusty Priest.
'We have proclaimed this event as 'Kokoda Day' because of the historical significance of the event.
'Australia's fate hung in the balance during the dark days of the Kokoda campaign from July to November 1942.
'It was the first time Australian territory had been invaded by a seemingly invincible foreign aggressor superior in numbers, weaponry and fanatical desire to obey and die for their Emperor.
'Our Australian troops absorbed everything the advancing Japanese army could throw at them across the formidable Owen Stanley Ranges in Papua New Guinea.
They rallied at the last line of defence around Imita Ridge on the doorstep of Port Moresby and eventually drove the Japanese back across the mountains and recaptured Kokoda on the 2nd November 1942.
The Australian flag was raised at a historic parade with General George Vasey the following day.
'The spell of invincibility of the Japanese army had been broken by the Australians.
'But we should remember that the flag would never have been raised at Kokoda if the allied naval forces had not defeated the Japanese at the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway.
It would not have been raised if the air force had not bombed battleships and landing craft on the northern beaches of Papua New Guinea.
It would not have been raised if the Americans and Australians had not defeated the amphibious landings at Milne Bay.
'We must also never forget that we would have been defeated in the jungles of Papua New Guinea if it had not been for the local wartime carriers - the legendary 'fuzzy-wuzzy angels'.
Tragically the sacrifices of these wonderful people have never been officially recognised by the Australian government.
They never even received a campaign medal for their service.
'We have therefore proclaimed Kokoda Day on the 3rd November and have dedicated it to the memory of the PNG wartime carriers.
'We hope that Kokoda Day will one day be officially proclaimed by the Australian government and rank as importantly as Anzac Day because at Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost but at Kokoda we fought for Australia and won' said Rusty Priest.
The official speaker at the 2010 Kokoda Day service was Charlie Lynn who has trekked Kokoda 59 times over the past 19 years.
The flag was raised by Don Oughtred, a Kokoda veteran.
The ceremony included a performance by a local PNG cultural group.
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