Sandakan Death March

Wayne Wetherall, Managing Director of Kokoda Spirit and Sandakan Spirit believes the increasing public awareness of the infamous Sandakan Death March will allow more Australians to understand the horrific ordeal suffered by these Gallant POW's, this ongoing awareness and understanding of this tradgety will ensure that the spirit of these men will never be forgotten.
Wetherall went on to comment that it was great to read the article in the Sydney Morning Herald of the continued involvement of Miltary Historian and Veteran Trekker Lynette Ramsay Silvers association of walking and leading treks across the Sandakan Death March this year with Tham Yau Kong.

It is also interesting that it is possible to pay extra for Lynette Silver to accompany you on a TYK trek.
On the TYK web site the following is written;

NOTE:


Private groups wishing to have Lynette Silver accompany them to provide expert and exclusive historical commentary need to contact TYK to ensure that she is available, and to obtain a quote, before making a firm booking.
Above rates led by Australian historian (Ms Lynette Silver)

Below is the SMH article.

Frequent flyer: Lynette Ramsay Silver


Sydney Morning Herald

January 21, 2012
Veteran trekker ... Lynette Ramsay Silver.


This military historian is a veteran trekker, too.

Q Where do you escort relatives of World War II Australian prisoners of war?

A We follow the progress of soldiers from the moment they left Australia, see where battles took place in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, go to former camp sites and, by coach, follow the progress of the Sandakan Death March in Borneo. We also visit Borneo's Labuan War Cemetery, where thousands of Australian prisoners are buried. But it's not all remembrance - Sabah has fabulous wildlife and we see orang-utans.

Q Do you trek the Sandakan Track every year?


A My colleague Tham Yau Kong and I trek it regularly, escorting travellers on about 100 kilometres of the 240-kilometre death-march track. We pick up the route as it reaches the mountains. There are three mountains to climb, including Mount Kinabalu, streams to cross and sweat to expend in the effort.

Q Where to next?

A To Singapore next month. February 17 is the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore.

Q If you could fly anywhere, where would you go for lunch?

A The Greek islands, the remoter ones. If there's still any left. To eat seafood, drink local wine and hang out with the locals.

Q What's in your hand luggage?

A All the paperwork and notes I need and a change of clothes.

Q Greatest indulgence when travelling?

A Having a fabulous massage at the end of the Sandakan trek and a night of luxury in a suite overlooking the South China Sea at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Malaysia's Kota Kinabalu. I have a glass of chilled chardonnay and watch the sun set.

Q Best hotel you've stayed in?

A The Fairmont San Francisco. It has the proportions of a French chateau and is wonderfully grand.

Q Wisest travel advice given to you?

A Don't fly for more than about eight hours at any stretch.

Q Where do you go for holidays?

A Last year we went to Bunga Raya Resort on Pulau Gaya, a reef island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu and part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Recently, we went to Sabah's Danum Valley, stayed at an eco-lodge and saw a large number of pygmy elephants.

Lynette Ramsay Silver and Tham Yau Kong lead several public Sandakan treks in Borneo this year.

Visit http://www.kokodaspirit.com/
http://www.sandakandeathmarch.com.au/