In June this year, 61 year old, Mary Cook from Kersbrook, and an Original Bootcamp recruit, took on the challenge of walking the Kokoda Trail. Mary is now one of the oldest females to have ever successfully completed the Trail.

Mary said, “this was a physical challenge that I really wanted to prove to myself that I could do, and I was successful due to a very strong mental attitude and the help of the wonderful porters who make it their responsibility to get you to the end no matter what. This 96km trek in 7 days through pristine jungle will remain as one of the most moving and memorable experiences of my life.

On the evening of Friday, July 27th the Lights of Lobethal committee continued its theme, “Making the 2007 Lights Festival the best ever”; with about 70 people attending an informal get together at the Lobethal Centennial Hall. The hall had been decorated with Christmas displays on the stage (right) and in the foyer, with other displays set around the hall including, “The Living Nativity”, “The Christmas Tree Festival”, a “Graffiti Board” on which people recorded their thoughts and comments about the Lights Festival, and there were also displays and photos from previous festivals, with Christmas carols playing in the background.

Right: Delia Smit, Nell McQuire, Anne Cooper, Heather Lee and Valda Hanna proudly “showing off” some of the knitted garments for World Vision and also for the Premature babies section of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at a recent Church service. The whole church was decorated with garments - rugs draped over pews, the pulpit and communion rails whilst toys adorned the organ, beanies in the window sills and jumpers and scarves along the aisle, pews and kneeling pads.