COURAGE, endurance, mateship and sacrifice defined Australian soldiers at Kokoda, guest speaker Kate Perryman told Friday’s Anzac commemoration in Boort.
Kate shared her experience of walking the New Guinea track in 2012 and attending the 70th anniversary service of that campaign.
She said those values were inscribed in four pillars at the Isurava memorial.
“My first memories of Anzac Day growing up were sharing in this day with the Boort community as a Girl Guide, walking with our flags to the hall in a parade honouring the men and women  who have served,” she said in her address.
Kate said she had been lucky to have a fulfilling friendship with Lou Thomas, a neighbour at Wychitella. 
“He had fought at Kokoda and we will always fondly remember our times spent with him.” That connection was to the fore in 2012 when Kate and brother Tim Rhook were discussing raising money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.
“I have always looked for challenges and for many years I had wanted to tackle the Kokoda Track,” she said.
“To be able to finish our trek walking into Kokoda on such a significant day to honour our Australian soldiers at the 70th anniversary is clearly marked in my memory.”
More than 200 people attended the Boort commemoration in the memorial hall.
Members of the Lake Boort Scouts paraded flags into the hall where Boort District School captains Jasmine Twigg and Harry Malone read out the names of local soldiers killed in World Wars One and Two.
Boort Babblers choir sang The Last Man from Dunolly and Church of Christ pastor Patrick Houghton  read a prayer.
The greatest admiration in Boort on Anzac Day 2025 was shown for Alan Streader who played the Last Post. In his 100th year, Alan received acclaim and praise from the community for his poignant rendition.