108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week, Tanya discusses the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing challenges and discovering new strengths as she prepares to undertake the Kokoda Trek in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea
There is something deeply satisfying about working towards a meaningful goal.
I have always believed that growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone. While new challenges can test us physically, emotionally and mentally, they also teach us resilience, humility and perseverance. They remind us that we are capable of far more than we often give ourselves credit for.
When I was asked to take on my latest challenge, I didn't spend much time thinking about it. I simply said yes.
Yes to walking for days up steep inclines and through rugged terrain, dense jungle and unpredictable weather.
Yes to sleeping on the ground on a small air mattress.
Yes to bathing in creeks and not washing my hair for an entire week.
Yes to mud, wet feet, sore muscles and the possibility of a few leeches along the way.
And yes to wearing the same clothes day after day, washed only in creek water.
In August, I will undertake the Kokoda Trek in Papua New Guinea, a challenge that will test both my physical endurance and mental strength. I know there will be setbacks, discomfort, aching muscles, tired legs and moments of self-doubt. It will almost certainly force me to dig deeper than I have before and remind me why challenges matter so much. They reveal strengths we never knew we possessed.
As I prepare for Kokoda, my physical training has intensified. Long walks with a weighted pack, strength training and building my endurance have all become part of the routine. Equally important, however, has been preparing mentally for the challenge ahead. While physical fitness is essential, I know that resilience, determination and mindset will ultimately get me through the nine-day trek.
Yet every training session reminds me why I am doing this.
As a proud Ambassador for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), I have the privilege of seeing the extraordinary impact this organisation has on communities across regional, rural and remote Australia. For many Australians, the RFDS is more than a healthcare provider; it is a lifeline.
Whether delivering emergency medical retrievals, primary healthcare, mental health support or preventative services, the RFDS ensures that distance is never a barrier to accessing quality health care.
My Kokoda journey is therefore about much more than completing a trek. It is about raising vital funds and awareness for an organisation that helps ensure that Australians living in regional and remote communities can access the care they need, when they need it most.
I invite you to support this journey by making a donation, sharing the campaign or helping spread the word about the incredible work of the RFDS. Every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a difference. Together, we can help ensure that quality healthcare reaches every Australian, no matter where they call home.
