The Kokoda Challenge Association Incorporated
The Kokoda Challenge Association Incorporated is a Registered Not-For-Profit organisation.
General Association meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month with all members and invited guests are welcome.
To join The Kokoda Challenge Association, your application must be nominated by one current Association member and be ratified at a General Association Meeting.
If you are interested in joining The Kokoda Challenge Association, please contact us to receive an application form.
The Kokoda Challenge Association has an Executive Committee which meets quarterly to ensure all activities and future development are in line with the Association's Constitution and Mission Statement. The Executive positions are elected bi-annually at the Annual General Meeting and nominations are invited from General Committee members.
The Executive Committee
Chairman - Mr Doug Henderson
Doug is a Vietnam veteran who served with 6th Battalion RAR as a medic in 1966-67. Doug was seriously wounded in service and medically discharged from the Army due to the injuries he sustained. He went on to own and operate successful Insurance Assessing Company and Express Courier businesses in Sydney, before retiring on the Gold Coast in 1994.
Doug has served on the Federal Government’s National Suicide Prevention Committee and the Department of Veterans Affairs National Operations Working Party. In 2004 he resigned from his 10-year tenure as a Veteran Advocate to pursue his interest of Kokoda and Young Australians, as founder of The Kokoda Challenge Association.
Chief Executive Officer - Mrs Samantha Klintworth
Vice Chairman - Mr Geoff Hamilton
Geoff worked for Telecom/Telstra over a 41 year period before retiring in 1999. Since retirement, he has been involved in numerous charity organisations. Geoff is the Walks Co-ordinator for the Gold Coast Bushwalking Club and is very passionate about bush walking and the environment. As a founding member, Geoff has been closely involved in The Kokoda Challenge Association from day one. He was the first person to walk the entire route to trial the viablity of the course for the event.
Geoff is also a lifetime member of Junior Chamber of Commerce International.
In 2006 Geoff was the group Youth Leader for the Youth Program and led them on the historic walk on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.
Treasurer - Mr Gary Scott
Gary is a Pit Boss at Jupiters Casino Gold Coast. He has worked at Tabcorp for the past 20 years and has lived on the Gold Coast for 32 years with his wife Deb and their three boys.
In Gary’s spare time he enjoys bushwalking, cycling, kayaking and travelling. Gary was intimately involved in the establishment of The Kokoda Challenge Association and is one of the founding members. In 2007 Gary was a KCYP Group Leader, walking with the Kokoda Kids in Papua New Guinea and was elected as Treasurer in November 2008.
Secretary - Mrs Kim North
Kim has been a member of the The Kokoda Challenge Association since 2004 and is the Start and Finish Co-ordinator for The Kokoda Challenge.
Kim is employed as a medical secretary and her son Kris was one of the original Kokoda Kids in 2005.
Member of the Executive - Mr Lindsay Hicks
Lindsay has a Degree in Agricultural Science and was a Researcher at two Universities before returning to the Gold Coast where he now runs a family property partnership. Linsday was the Treasurer of the The Kokoda Challenge Association for three years.
A foundation member of the The Kokoda Challenge Association and a member of the Gold Coast Bushwalkers, he's an highly experienced bush walker and was instrumental as part of the team which set The Kokoda Challenge event course. On the weekend of the Gold Coast event Lindsay is the Command Centre Manager.
Mrs Anna Henderson - Executive Committee Member
Anna Henderson has been by Doug's side since day one, not only being his partner but also the back bone to the KCA. She was a leader in the first two years of the KCYP and helped mentor and lead the first group of 'Kokoda Kids' through their personal journey. Over the years she has helped support the KCA and continues to be a great support and mentor for all young people being involved in the KCYP.
Public Fund Committee
In August 2006, The Kokoda Challenge Association was granted Deductible Gift Recipient status under the Department of Communities Harm Prevention Charter, allowing all donations to The Kokoda Challenge Youth Program and The Kokoda Challenge events to be tax deductible. As such, The Kokoda Challenge Public Fund Committee was established to ensure that all donations received are accordingly spent on harm prevention measures for young people.
The Public Fund Committee members are:
Mr Ron Workman OAM - Chairman, Currumbin/ Palm Beach RSL Memorial Club Inc.
Mr John Millsom - St Vincent De Paul Society, State Chairman Homeless and Response Committee
Mr Shane Beacall - Director, WMB Youth At Risk Alliance
Mr Douglas Henderson - Chairman Kokoda Challenge Association Inc., Past National Vice President Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia
