Lore Citraro – Director / Trek Leader
Teacher at a local Cairns private school, Lore’s love is passing on knowledge and developing others. Having done many Treks allows Lore to provide this valuable knowledge to her Trekkers. Now looking after the business as a Director of Kokoda Track Experience, Lore to spend more time on the Track doing the thing she loves.
Tim Flanigan – Director / Trek Leader
Trained as a Mechanical Plumber,Tim now works as a Project Manager for a QLD based construction business serving NQ and PNG . His enjoyment of the outdoors including camping, fishing and hiking combined with his love of adventure and challenges, led him to sign up for his first Kokoda trek with Merv the founder of Kokoda Track Experience. Tim is a practical person with a cheerful, positive outlook and a desire to share the Kokoda experience with others. Now with considerable hiking experience and proven leadership, Tim shares his bush knowledge, historical and cultural understanding as both a Director and Trek Leader with Kokoda Track Experience.
Mervyn (Merv) Hains – Founder
Merv is/was a Chartered Accountant, Tax Agent, and operated his own business in Cairns. He first walked the Kokoda Track in September 2005 and has since completed 20 trips over the Track. Merv was forced to take a break during 2014 because of spine surgery but should be back during 2015. Merv is a Vietnam Veteran, having completed National Service between 1969 to 1971. He spent this time in the infantry with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and was wounded in action on 2nd December 1970 and still carries pieces of mine shrapnel in his head and neck . He is a life member of the following organisations:
- 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment Association
- Returned & Services League of Australia
- Cairns RSL & Services Club
Merv’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. Citylife, a local magazine, featured his exploits along the Kokoda Track under the headline “Merv Hains – Reluctant Hero”. In recognition of his extensive local community work, Merv was also given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch in Cairns prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
During his first Kokoda Trek, Merv met locally placed, experienced guides in a number of villages. The villagers from Alola asked him to set up a partnership so that local people could receive a share of the profits from visitors walking through their lands. Believing firmly that profits from Kokoda should benefit local people, when he returned to Cairns, Merv made all the arrangements required in Australia to establish and operate such a company.
