By REBECCA BILLS
SITUATED in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges National Park are the gruelling 1000 Steps.
Testing even the fittest of athletes the steps, as part of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, were titled such due to them representing the Golden Staircase – 2000 steps cut by Australian Army engineers into a track between Uberi and Imita Ridge in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
After a $1 million project to upgrade the Kokoda Track Memorial in 2011, the site is now home to information panels, shelters and seating to host public commemorative events such as Anzac Day.
As part of the project, a permanent memorial to the 2000 Australians who died fighting at Kokoda is located at the base of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk.
Created in the early 1900s, the 100 Steps were originally made from the trunks of tree ferns laid along the wetter areas of the track to make the climb a little easier.
They were then replaced with wooden palings before the more permanent concrete steps were installed in 1950.
The park was then adopted by the Victoria veterans of the campaign as their memorial site in 1998 as the resemblance of the walk is said to be very similar to the first 100 meters of Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.
Along the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk there are 14 plaques dedicated to those who fought and died on the track.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walk, which incorporates the 1000 Steps, is a three kilometre trail that takes approximately one and a half hours return to complete and is recommended to those of reasonable fitness.
The Kokoda Track Memorial and walk is located at Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground in the south-western area of the Dandenong Ranges National Park – 35 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD off Mount Dandenong Tourist Road.
Anzac Day events
ANZAC Day marches, ceremonies and services will be held across the nation on Friday 25 April.
Following are details of expected Anzac Day service around the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and The Ranges:
Coldstream/Yering
Students from Yering Primary School will hold an Anzac service in collaboration with members of the Lilydale RSL and the Coldstream War Memorial on the corner of Melba and Maroondah Highway on Monday 28 April from 9am. All members of the public are welcome.
Dandenong Ranges
THE Dandenong Ranges RSL will not have a Dawn Service but will hold the march at 10.30am at the Sassafras village green followed by the service at 11am.
Emerald
THE Emerald RSL will hold its Dawn Service at 6am followed by the March from town to the RSL at 10.30am for a service at 11am.
Healesville
A DAWN Service will be held at the memorial at Healesville RSL at 5.50am and will be followed by a gunfire breakfast in the RSL. The march, assembling at 9.30am for a 10am start at Church Street, will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and service at the Memorial Hall Cenotaph
Lilydale
A DAWN Service will be held at 5.45am (assembly from 5.30am) at the Cenotaph in the main street. Concludes at 6.30am followed by a march back to the RSL where refreshments will be served.
Millgrove
The Millgrove community with Warburton RSL will hold a dawn service at the Millgrove Park Memorial at 5.50am on Friday 25 April. This will be followed by a gunfire breakfast at the adjacent CFA.
Monbulk
Monbulk RSL will have its dawn service at 6am outside the RSL on Main Road, which will be followed by a gunfire breakfast. The group will then march along the Main Road at 9.30am before holding its service at about 10am.
Mount Evelyn
Mount Evelyn RSL will host its main Anzac Day service on Sunday 27 April at 2pm at the war memorial park on the corner of Wray Crescent and Birmingham Road. A Dawn Service will also be held at 6am on Friday 25 April.
Upwey/Belgrave
The Dawn Service at 6am will be held at the Upwey-Belgrave RSL at 1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey, followed by the march at 9.30am. Another service will then follow at 10am at the RSL.
Warburton
THE Anzac Day march will leave from the RSL hall in Main Street at 10.25am (assembly from 10am) to march to the Cenotaph for a wreath-laying ceremony.
Yarra Glen
THE march will leave the corner of King Street and Bell Street at 10.15am (assemble from 10am). A wreath-laying ceremony and service will follow at the Cenotaph in front of the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall at 10.30am.
Yarra Junction
A DAWN Service will be held at the Cenotaph in Yarra Junction commencing at 6am, followed by a community breakfast at the Upper Yarra RSL in Settlement Road, Yarra Junction. The Anzac Day march will assemble at 10am at the main intersection in Yarra Junction for a march to the Cenotaph commencing at 10.30am.
*Not all events were able to be confirmed by time of print but are expected to be held.
