Veteran soldier, Brian Freeman of national charity Walking Wounded this morning commenced an epic kayak of Bass Straight from Port Welshpool, which he aims to do in just four days.
The estimated arrival is Monday 10 August – in the afternoon (time unknown at this stage) at Little Musselroe Bay, Tasmania.
The kayak is off the back of traversing Australia that entailed covering more than 4,484 kilometres over 65 days on foot.
Despite fatigue, aching legs, sunburn and the other strains running more than 65 kilometres a day puts on the body, Brian will then walk a further 471 kilometers on foot to Dover – aiming to finish there on 21 August, following the kayak.
The Great Australian Traverse, supported by Virgin Australia aims to raise funds and awareness for wounded soldiers and family members of fallen soldiers, and provide programs to assist with employment and suicide prevention.
For the kayak, Brian will be joined by John Jacoby: four times World Marathon Kayaking Champion 1985, 86, 87 & 88; and six times Australian Kayaking Champion 10k to 42k between 1985 & 1993. Brian and John have both kayaked Bass Strait together previously. They also kayaked Australia to New Guinea together and ran Kokoda all in under six days.
“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,” Brian said.
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.
“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.
Events planned for Tasmania will be uploaded to:
• http://www.walkingwounded.org.au/event/
Useful links:
• www.walkingwounded.org.au
• Donate and track their progress via http://trackthetribute.org.au/
Sarah Baker
