Natasha Determined To Conquer Tough Trek

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday October 24, 2007

By MICHELLE HARRIS

AS other school-leavers whoop it up on cruise ships and the Gold Coast in schoolies week, Natasha Smith will be tackling the Kokoda Trail.

Natasha, 18, of Medowie, will hike the path worn by Australian and Papuan soldiers in World War II.

She will finish the HSC on October 31 at Hunter River High and arrive in Papua New Guinea on November 10 to make the nine-day, 96-kilometre trek.

Natasha will be the youngest of a six-member team, which will include her father Brett.

She has competed in triathlons and fun runs, and has worked two part-time jobs to save for the trip, in between studying and helping her father and younger sister with duties at home.

Natasha became eager to do the walk after studying World War II in year 10 and learning of the conditions Australian soldiers encountered in Papua New Guinea.

"I think it will be pretty hard physically," she said.

"It will give me an idea of what it was like but I'm not carrying a full pack or doing it in conditions like they did."

Natasha said she wanted to make the trip this year, because she expected to be busy with university studies in the future.

She has applied for several courses with a view to becoming a teacher or paramedic.