Mentone Grammar Year 12 (2010) students were offered an alternative to ‘Schoolies’ at the end of their VCE exams - the opportunity of going to Papua New Guinea. As part of this cultural exchange, they were challenged with walking the Kokoda Track, living with a family in the coastal village of Buna, kayaking and island hopping, riding down the idyllic island of New Ireland, visiting the volcano town of Rabaul as well as conducting AFL Football clinics at a number of schools.

According to the Rev'd Roger Williams, Mentone Grammar School Chaplain who led the tour, the trip was challenging physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. “Walking one of the world’s top 10 most difficult tracks, the Kokoda, kayaking and riding bikes in the tropic heat and humidity taxed all the members of the group. Constantly meeting new people in numerous villages and living alone with a family in Buna Village was also extremely mentally challenging, not to mention noticing some of the hardships that many of the local people had to cope with” Rev’d Williams said.

On the final day through New Ireland, the group conducted AFL clinics at five different schools where the talent discovered was amazing. “PNG is an untapped resource. There is an enormous amount of athleticism combined with natural ability here that the AFL is yet to discover. It is only a matter of time before we have a league player from here” said Andrew Hayes from Mentone Grammar. “It was fantastic to have the support of the St Kilda Football Club who donated boxes of equipment for the trip. The smiles on all of the kids’ faces made it all worthwhile.”

The School’s included on the trip were Mentone Grammar, Girton College, Bendigo; Beaconhills College, Pakenham; and Holmesglen TAFE. A tremendous bond was created within the group after only a few hours of the trip as they connected over great moments of inner learning and reflection.