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Book description

If one person 'made' the Kokoda Track - that man was Bert Kienzle. Part Samoan and German/English, born in Fiji and raised in Germany and Australia, he was managing a rubber plantation and gold mine in Papua New Guinea at the outbreak of WWII. He surveyed and established the Track, and spent more time on it than anyone else throughout the campaign - managing and organising the delivery of supplies and men along it. This is a unique story of a very special part of our history, told by Bert Kienzle's daughter-in-law with unique access to him, as well as all his records and photos. While his vital role in Kokoda is acknowledged in all the published accounts - but until today no one has ever told his story. In my humble opinion, Bert Kienzle did more than any other single man to make Australian victory possible.' Robyn Kienzle is Bert Kienzle's daughter-in-law. A teacher, she and her husband also run a trekking company which takes people along the Kokoda Track. Her husband works closely with the Australian War Memorial on the history of the Track and Papua New Guinea.