How do I get to the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway?

The Walkway is readily accessible by car, train or bus. If driving, there is free four hour parking adjacent to our Education Centre. The Walkway is a short walk from the Rhodes railway station, and bus routes are also close to the Walkway. For more details refer to our website.

Is this just for members of the Friends of Kokoda (FoK) program?

Not at all! While admission for FoK members is free, we welcome all who wish to attend. A small entry of $5.00 can be paid on the day or through our website.

How many military history talks are held at the Walkway?

We hold about six talks per year, each on a military history topic, including the Kokoda campaign. Each speaker is a specialist in their area of interest. Details of our talks (both past and future) can be viewed on our website.

What is included on the day?

We serve light refreshments from 10.00am, and we encourage you to connect with the speaker and other attendees before or after the talk. We also have a lucky door prize, which includes fascinating military history titles.

1943 Wodonga Train Crash: 'Beyond the Battlefield' military history talk Tickets, Sat, 10 Oct 2026 at 10:30 am

Overview

Join us for a dive into military history at our 'Beyond the Battlefield' talks where we explore untold or little-known stories.

Welcome to our October Friends of Kokoda (FoK) 'Beyond the Battlefield' military history talk event.

Join us on Saturday 10 October 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway's Ralph Honner Education Centre, where our speakers discuss military history topics, both on and beyond the battlefield.

Our talk in October will see retired infantryman and military police investigator Andrew Johnson speak with his presentation: 'From Soldier to Storyteller: Uncovering the Legacy of the 1943 Wodonga Train Disaster and the Journey to Healing'

Andrew’s presentation will delve deeply into the tragic 1943 Wodonga train accident. This devastating collision between a troop-laden bus heading to Albury for a night of revelry on 8 May 1943 and the Victorian Railways locomotive travelling blindly in reverse across a notorious level crossing, not only claimed the lives of service personnel and the civilian bus driver, but left lasting emotional scars on the victims’ families and communities. He will detail events leading to the disaster, including wartime operational challenges, human errors, and infrastructure limitations. His story also illustrates the transformative power of storytelling, showing how it can bridge personal and collective histories and foster healing.

Andrew is a passionate author on various forgotten episodes in Australia's military history, and provides insights on his own personal journey through writing and sharing stories which can, in turn, foster healing.

Admission for members of the FoK program is free; others can pay a small donation of $5.00 on the day (or through our website).

Connect with fellow military history enthusiasts at the Walkway and don't miss out on this unique experience!