Their preparations and subsequent plans were continually disrupted by the constant heroic actions of our fighter and bomber pilots who continually bombed Rabaul and the Japanese landing fleets on the northern beaches at Buna and Gona.

The Kokoda campaign began with the first contact between the 39th Militia Battalion and the advancing Japanese South Seas Detachment at Awala (forward of Kokoda) on 24 July 1942.  The first battle of Kokoda was fought on 27 July when the Australians were forced back into the Jungle.  After a bitter and desperate campaign over the ensuring three months the Australians turned defeat into victory and recaptured Kokoda on 2nd November 1942 and raised the Australian flag in a formal ceremony the next day.  The Kokoda campaign was concluded with the crossing of the Kumusi River on 16 November 1942.

The tide of the war turned with these defeats – the first suffered by the Japanese war machine.

Australia currently has two official commemorative days to remember our sacrifice in World War 1 (Anzac Day and Remembrance Day). Anzac Day commemorates the landings of our Anzacs on the beaches of Gallipoli and Remembrance Day commemorates the end of the war.

We currently have one day proclaimed to remember our sacrifice in World War 11 – VP Day on 15 August which commemorates the allied victory in the Pacific.

With the growing awareness of Kokoda it is timely to select an appropriate day that will cause people to pause and remember the sacrifice made by servicemen and women to protect our homeland and our mandated territory from invasion and occupation.  An official proclamation will allow parliaments, councils, schools, media and veterans organisations to focus on the significance of the day and commemorate it in some way.