LATEST NEWS: 26 June 2025

He may be 76 years old and have survived cancer, but that’s certainly not slowing down Geoff Zipper, who will set off on the gruelling 96km Kokoda Trek next week for the fifth time, devoting his efforts to supporting TROG’S work.

Geoff, known as ‘Swampy’, from Nelson’s Bay, NSW, was a Fire and Rescue worker for 36 years until being medically retired in 2006 after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

He believes the cancer that he, and two of his work colleagues also developed, was linked to exposure to PFAS chemicals in foam used in firefighting, and has since campaigned vigorously on the issue.

While he was undergoing chemotherapy, Geoff read three books about the Kokoda Trail, renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942 and today recognised as one of the world’s great adventure treks.

“It bought tears to my eyes and I vowed that if I ever had the chance, I was going to walk this trek,” he said.

Geoff undertook his first trek in 2019 at the age of 70, and has since returned three times, undertaking the arduous eight-day hike in both directions, enduring heat, humidity, river crossings – and lots of mud.

The narrow, single-file path winds through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea, reaching elevations of over 2,000 metres and crossing rugged, remote terrain only accessible on foot.

“I come back a better person each time,” he says. “I like to give something back, so I try to raise money for a worthy cause.”

This trek, he is supporting TROG’s work to advance radiation therapy through clinical trials, following in the footsteps of the Kokoda Challenge team of five intrepid trekkers who have just returned from their amazing fundraiser trek.

Geoff, who has been training with 8-10km hikes each day, will set off on 30 June, walking with the Kokoda Spirit company.

“It’s gruelling, but we owe our soldiers who fought there a great deal,” he says. “You get to meet lots of amazing people, both those on the trek with you and the local villagers. I’m looking forward to it.”

• You can support Geoff’s Kokoda Trail fundraiser here.