Grandsons of legendary Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels in Australia on their own mission

The grandsons of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, the Papua New Guineans who assisted Australian troops during World War II, have taken part in the Oxfam charity walk in Melbourne.

Grandsons of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

Source: SBS

Paul Ume, Tarube Ume Jnr, Joe Matama, Knoxsy Eddie, Mondo Maname and Joe Uwea have just trekked 100 kilometres through Melbourne as part of the Oxfam Trailwalker event. 

The six men were flown to Australia by 'Network Kokoda' a not-for-profit organisation raising funds and awareness about tuberculosis. 

Network Kokoda Chariman Andrew Tracy told SBS News the organisation and its supporters have been raising money to keep across new developments and medical equipment.

"We've been raising some funds to build an eight bed isolation ward on the grounds of a general hospital of PNG," Mr Tracy said. 

Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker Australia
On the start line and ready to run/walk 100 kilometres Source: SBS


"It will give the hospital some restrictive areas to house those patients with highly contagious multi-drug resistant TB (tuberculosis)."

Tuberculosis is a highly infectious lung disease that's reached endemic proportions in Papua New Guinea.

It's the first time the men, grandsons of the legendary Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, have left their villages.

Two years ago, the disease killed one of their relatives, Knoxy Eddie's sister.

The Oxfam team manager is now more determined to raise money. 

"We need some funds to get proper medicines, proper drugs to cure tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea," Mr Knoxy told SBS News. 

Paul Ume is from Nauro Village, nestled along the Kokoda Trail in the Mt Koiari region. 

Mr Ume told SBS News the 100 kilometre walk was very different from the Kokoda Track. 

"The Kokoda Track, it's a bit rugged... not a bit, it's really rugged, rough."

The six men hold a special connection with Australia which spans generations. 

During the Second World War, each of their grandfathers assisted in carrying supplies and getting wounded Australian troops back to base. 

Grandsons of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
Source: SBS


Now they're in Sydney to visit the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, an 800 metre rainforsest, located in the Sydney suburb of Concord West, which links Concord Hospital with Rhodes Station. 

Australian soliders were brought to the hospital after they were carried from the frontline to Port Moresby by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. 

Knoxy Eddie's grandfather, Ovuru Indiki, was one of the last surviving angels and visited Concord Hospital before he died in 2013.

"I'm so happy, my grandfather came here and now I'm here."


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2 min read

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By Abbie O'Brien, Natarsha Kallios


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