My beloved people of Papua New Guinea,
As we gather on this solemn day, July 23, 2024, we find ourselves reflecting on the profound significance of Remembrance Day. This day, etched in our history, is a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of our forefathers, yet it remains a story untold to many of our young generation.
Thousands of our youth today remain unaware of the immense sacrifices made by their grandfathers during World War II and subsequent conflicts. It is a day to honor those who laid down their lives so we could stand here today, free and proud.
Remembrance Day is not just a date on the calendar; it marks the first engagement between the brave troops of our native Papua Infantry Battalion and the Japanese forces at Awala near Kokoda on this very day in 1942. These valiant soldiers fought side by side with Australian comrades in Buna, Gona, Sanananda, and Kumusi in the Northern Province. Today, we commemorate the 82nd anniversary of that historic encounter.
From the ashes of chaos and the shadows of death emerged the heroic tales of the Kokoda Trail, forging an unbreakable bond between Papua New Guinea and Australia. On this day, in 1942, when Japanese troops landed on our northern shores and began their march over the Owen Stanley Ranges aiming for Port Moresby, it was the unwavering spirit of our soldiers and the selfless support of our villagers that stood as the last line of defense, protecting not just our homeland, but also the mainland of Australia from an imminent threat.
Earlier this year, I had the honor of walking a part of the Kokoda Trail with Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese, from Kokoda to Isurava. It was during this journey that the true weight of the sacrifices made by our soldiers and villagers became vividly clear. The Biage people of the Kokoda Trail, peaceful and unassuming, were thrust into a war they did not seek, yet they rose with unparalleled bravery, aiding the Australian forces during those darkest hours.
These noble Biage people hail from the rugged and unforgiving terrains of the Kokoda Trail villages: Isurava, Alola, Hoi, and Kovelo, as well as from Abuari, Haela, Felai, Kaile, and Hagutava along the Felai-Abuari Track, and Savaia, Ebei, and Kanga in the Kokoda flatlands. Their courage and resilience are the very bedrock of our nation’s spirit.
On Remembrance Day 2024, we stand united in honoring our valiant Pacific Islands Battalion, the countless villagers across Papua New Guinea who were unwillingly drawn into the horrors of WWII, and all members of our disciplined forces who have sacrificed in various conflicts since.
Let us remember and cherish their legacy. Lest We Forget.