The Wangaratta Lodge of St John, in partnership with the Freemasons Foundation, intends to increase its support for the Wangaratta RSL Bob Iskov Kokoda Track Scholarship. At an RSL function last week celebrating the most recent scholarship recipients' completion of the Kokoda Track, lodge master Matt DeNatris congratulated the students and presented the fourth annual $2000 donation the Wangaratta Lodge of St John and Freemasons Foundation have committed to the scholarship. Mr DeNatris also confirmed the lodge and foundation will continue supporting the scholarship and plan to double their donation next year. The donation assists three students - one each from Wangaratta High School, Cathedral College and Galen College - trek and experience the 96 kilometre Kokoda Track in Paupa New Guinea's mountainous terrain and reflect upon its enormous significance in the battle to save Port Moresby and subsequently Australia during World War Two. The scholarship - which honours the late Bob Iskov, who fought and survived on the Kokoda Track in World War Two - aims to improve the knowledge of young people from this area about the difficulties and sacrifice made by Australian soldiers defending Australia and the vital importance of the Kokoda Track in our history. This year's scholarship recipients - Charli Wright, Makiah McCallum and Oskar English - each provided moving testimony of their experience walking the track during last week's function at the RSL.
