We are proud to announce that the Kokoda Youth Foundation has been named the 2025 overall winner of the Gold Coast Business Excellence Award in the Education, Training and Employment category, recognising our longstanding commitment to young people across Southeast Queensland. This prestigious award was presented in the company of hundreds of esteemed Gold Coast businesspeople at The Star on Saturday 29 November, where our Board Chair, Lynley Mangin, and Marketing Manager, Charlotte McCullough, accepted the award on behalf of our entire Kokoda community.

For more than 20 years, our organisation has delivered fully-funded, values-driven programs to more than 1,400 young Australians. These life-changing programs have helped them build greater resilience, confidence and community connection, as they practise the values of Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice in real-life challenges and activities. Our Kokoda Challenge event series has also grown to become Australia’s toughest team endurance event as more than 8,800 participants each year push their physical and mental limits, while raising vital funds for our Foundation. Our Challengers are a shining example of the Kokoda spirit, as they fundraise to help our organisation deliver these impactful programs to more local youth.

“This achievement belongs to our staff, volunteers, alumni, supporters and event participants,” said Board Chair, Lynley Mangin. “Together, we continue to carry the Spirit of Kokoda and strengthen the future of our young people.”

The Kokoda Youth Foundation rolled out the red carpet on October 11, 2025, for a night of celebration, reflection, and purpose at the 20 Year Gala Ball. Held at the Mercure Resort’s grand ballroom on the Gold Coast, the event brought together alumni, supporters, and community members to mark two decades of changing young lives through the Foundation’s transformative youth programs and Kokoda Challenge events.

The evening was a true celebration of the Foundation’s mission to build confidence, courage, and character in young Queenslanders. Guests enjoyed an elegant night of fine dining, flowing drinks, award presentations and live entertainment, including music, comedy, and a stunning cultural performance by Papua New Guinea dancers, who paid tribute to the 1942 Kokoda Campaign. It was filled with heartwarming moments as the audience heard from Founders, Doug and Anna Henderson, as well as a keynote speech from an original Kokoda Kid, Shane Stedwell, who had the crowd laughing at the ‘good old days’ when it all began. Fast-forward to our Youth Programs today, and our recent 2025 OTRT graduate, Krystal Chalker, took centre stage as she shared her gratitude for how the program changed her life.

“This Gala Ball was our way of celebrating our journey and thanking our community,” said CEO, Angela Debnam. “It was a chance to reflect on the incredible milestones we’ve achieved, the young people we’ve helped, and the many supporters who have made it all possible.”

Adding to the excitement were raffles and auctions featuring standout prizes – including a signed and framed microphone from global pop icon Katy Perry. Every dollar raised from the night will go directly toward funding our youth programs, ensuring more young people can experience the life-changing lessons of the Spirit of Kokoda.

Congratulations to our Gala Ball Distinguished Awardees

• 20th Anniversary Major Sponsor’s Award – The Springwater Man
• 20th Anniversary Influential Supporter’s award – Ros Bates MP
• 20th Anniversary Kokoda Challenge Legacy award – Adam Turner
• Daryl Todd Volunteer of the Year Award – Tamara Jarrett

Distinguished School Awards

• Helensvale State High School
• St Andrews Lutheran College
• Kimberley College
• Lindisfarne Anglican College
• Brisbane South State Secondary College
• Notre Dame College
• Cavendish Road State High School
• Laidley State High School
• Rosewood State High School
• The Lakes College
• Unity College
• Tamborine Mountain State High School

Distinguished Community Partner Awards

• Queensland Police Service, Rosewood
• Queensland Police Service, Laidley

Doug Henderson Outstanding Contribution Awards

• Jean Teamoke
• Sue Chapman
• Leanne Bradshaw
• Leigh & Glenn Bartlett
• Anthony Bevis
• Karen Purdy
• Mark Pearce

The 20 Year Gala Ball was not just a glamorous night to remember — it was a heartfelt reminder of the power of community, compassion, and giving back and we appreciate every person who was part of this important occasion.

Over 20 years ago, our incredible founder, Doug Henderson, was struck by how little was known about the 1942 Kokoda campaign in PNG – a battle that had a profound impact on the freedoms we enjoy in Australia today, and that had the potential to impact young lives for good. Together with his wife, Anna, they envisioned a program that would not only educate young people about Kokoda but also instil its core values of courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice. To ensure this program could be accessible to all, they created the Kokoda Challenge – a team endurance hike, mirroring the distance our soldiers trekked. This fundraising event became the main source of funding for our free youth programs which have shaped hundreds of young lives ever since.

Visionaries see change before it’s tangible. Leaders take others on the journey to make that vision a reality.

To celebrate two decades of success, the Foundation has an action-packed 2025 calendar of festivities. In May, our Kokoda community came together for a day of fun in the sun at our 20 Year Reunion Picnic. Our Kokoda Challenge events in Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast have seen record attendance this year and our inaugural event in Sydney promises to be a great success. We look forward to capping off our milestone celebrations with our 20 Year Gala Ball in October.

9 News Interview on 20 years of Kokoda

The Kokoda Youth Foundation has just been named winner of the GOLD COAST BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD in the Education, Training & Employment category. This accolade is a powerful testament to our ongoing success as an educators, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to the selection panel for recognising our impact with this award. For over 20 years, our mission has always been to offer free, youth programs grounded in Kokoda values. Through immersive outdoor education and challenges, mentorship, and community service, our small but passionate team have worked hard to achieve our mission of changing lives. Our greatest reward has always been to see participants build greater resilience, leadership skills, and sense of purpose, and for our alumni to flourish long beyond our programs.

We share this award with every staff member, participant, volunteer, school, community partner, and supporter who has walked with us. Together, we carry the Spirit of Kokoda and remain committed to shaping resilient, compassionate leaders, one step at a time.