Battling the wild and unpredictable seas of Australia’s Bass Strait is no small feat, let alone in a two-person kayak. But to try it after walking more than 4,000 kilometres from the top of Australia to the bottom, and following an attempted summit of Mount Everest – definitely a little more of a challenge than most would consider in a lifetime.
But for one man, it’s worth the challenge. Veteran soldier, Executive Director and Founder of national charity Walking Wounded, Brian Freeman, has created a monumental journey doing just that.
It’s part of a campaign to raise awareness and funds to help wounded ex-soldiers and Families of the Fallen.
The journey includes covering approximately 65 kilometres a day on foot during the Great Australian Traverse, supported by Virgin Australia.
The Traverse started in Bamaga, Cape York, on 1 June 2015 and has seen Brian and his support team of wounded soldiers and parents of fallen soldiers pass through 89 of Australia’s towns and cities, mostly in regional areas.
Brian will then kayak Bass Strait (any day from 5 August *pending weather) before resuming the walk to the small town of Dover in southern Tasmania – aiming to finish there on 21 August.
“We understand it will be the first ever north to south traverse of Australia using only human power. It’s certainly the first following an attempted summit of Mount Everest. We were high on the mountain when the devastating earthquakes struck Nepal. Subsequent avalanches were triggered by the earthquakes and we were stranded at Camp 2 without sleeping bags for two nights prior to being rescued by helicopter and returned to Base Camp. Twenty-two people lost their lives and 160 were badly injured.
“The mountain was closed although I am committed to returning with the Roll of Honour next year,” Brian said.
Brian’s been carrying the Roll of Honour (Afghanistan), inscribed with the names of the 41 soldiers who lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan. Housed in a specially made canister from the Australian War Memorial, the Roll will be returned to the Governor General at a Black Tie Families of the Fallen dinner in Canberra on the eve of Remembrance Day this year, after also being carried across Kokoda and to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.
Following long days on foot, enduring harsh roads and weather conditions, Brian says he’s looking forward to putting his feet up.
“I’m not mentally preparing for it but my feet are saying “Thank God.” I’m hoping for some bad weather so I can sit on an island out in the middle of Bass Strait and do nothing! Jokes aside, I am looking forward to putting my feet up in the kayak.
“We’ll have 471 kilometres to do on foot to Dover.”
Key dates & locations Brian and the team will go to: (itinerary attached)
• Cape Portland & Herrick – 15 August
• St Helens, Beaumaris & Scamander – 16 August
• Falmouth, Four Mile Creek, Seymour & Bicheno – 17 August
• Cranbrook, Swansea & Little Swanport – 18 August
• Triabunna, Orford, Spring Beach, Kellevie & Copping – 19 August
• Sandfly & Hobart – 20 August
• Dover – 21 August
“Many of the families of the 41 fallen soldiers will be there so I’m looking forward to the Tasmanian phase.”
“The risks involved in kayaking Bass Strait include sharks, waves, drowning, and exposure to the elements. There’s danger with every adventure but it’s measured and mitigated. We island hop so the longest day is 65kms, which is still a huge day in a kayak. I’m kayaking with John Jacoby who’s very competent and experienced. I did Bass Strait and Cape York with John so we’re quietly confident we’ll be OK.”
Other major kayaking adventures Brian has done include kayaking the Bass Strait previously. “I’ve kayaked with three friends from Australia (Cape York) to Papua New Guinea and then we did the entire Kokoda track. We did the whole trip in six days.”
Their goal is to complete the kayak phase in four days: “So we’re hoping for good weather. Nice 10-knot north westerlies with calm seas will be fabulous! The longer it takes to get there, the harder we’ll have to go on foot once we resume the walk again,” Brian explains.
“We laid 41 poppies in Cape York, and we’ll lay another 41 at the South East Cape of Tasmania. We would have traversed the full continent and have been the first to do so under full human power – all with the aim of raising awareness for wounded and fallen soldiers.”
“We’ve had the Governor of NSW join us for a walk recently in Gilgandra, as well as the Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force in Temora. More importantly, a significant number of parents of these fallen boys on the Roll of Honour have walked with us already. We’ve had Peter and Marie Robinson, parents of Rowan Robinson; Ray and Pam Palmer, parents of Scott Palmer; Chris and Amanda Lambert, father and step-mother of Matthew Lambert – whose anniversary we finish on – 22 August. Kerry Duffy, mother of Bryce Duffy; Janny Poate, mother of Robbie Poate, and many more will be joining us in Tasmania.”
Events will be held at various stops throughout the Traverse (TBC) but keep an eye on:
• http://www.walkingwounded.org.au/event/
Useful links:
• www.walkingwounded.org.au
• Donate and track their progress via http://trackthetribute.org.au/
• Images and captions can be downloaded at https://www.flickr.com/photos/131407662@N06/
Background information:
• The Traverse is part of a major endurance event that includes the attempted summit of Mt Everest in April (which was incomplete due to the earthquake), trekking the Kokoda Trail before concluding with a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro
• The Traverse started in early June; finishes 21 August in Dover, Tasmania
• Their goal is to raise a minimum of $2 million on this journey
• Programs help former soldiers reintegrate into the workforce through meaningful and sustainable employment or retraining
• Walking Wounded also provides suicide prevention and intervention services, counselling, employment guidance and physical rehabilitation facilities
• Family members of fallen soldiers will carry the Roll of Honour (Afghanistan) which represents the 41 soldiers who were killed at war throughout the Traverse
Sarah Baker
