Kokoda Track Guide & Ex Parliamentarian

Since his first exploration of the Kokoda Track in 1976, Charlie has clocked up over 30 guided treks on this journey of historical significance and physical challenge. Charlie turned his former military career into a NSW MP, then into life as a corporate leadership trainer. He is considered the most experienced non-Papuan trekker of the Track. An acclaimed motivator and speaker, Charlie’s extensive knowledge of the terrain and Track’s history immerse audiences in his compelling stories.

Charlie Lynn is a former army major and Vietnam Veteran. During his 21 years service he was assigned to Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and as an exchange officer with the United States Army. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College at Fort Queenscliff.

During his assignment with the United States Army he completed the Special Forces Military Freefall program which involved High Altitude - Low Opening (HALO) parachute jumps from twenty thousand feet - at night! He went onto complete 200 parachute jumps.

After leaving the army he organised special events which included the annual Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon which Cliff Young made famous - an 18,000 kilometre Army relay-run around Australia for cancer research - a 4,000 km Olympic Torch relay between Darwin, Cairns and Melbourne for the Melbourne Olympic bid - and a great caravan safari around Australia with 130 people travelling in 60 caravans!

In 1987 he held the NSW ultra-marathon record by running a distance of 213 kilometres in 24 hours.

More recently he has conducted outback leadership and survival training in remote areas of Australia - has led adventure treks across the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, and has twice climbed Mt Wilhelm – the highest mountain in PNG.

His Kokoda treks have featured in major television documentaries with celebrities such as Angry Anderson, Collette Mann and Darryl Braithwaite, street-kids from Youth Insearch, and teams from the Sydney Swans.

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote of his Kokoda Leadership Programs:

"Lynn is the world's toughest sporting coach. He'll publicly fry you at half-time in a match, and you loathe him with everything you have at that moment. After the game is won – less likely if its lost – you'll embrace him and come over all emotional .. I reckon you could take the 10 most boring television personalities presently gracing our screens, stick backpacks on them, get Charlie Lynn to bark at them as they hit the Kokoda Track, and you'd get a great show. Now there's a challenge.'

Additional Background:

Educational/other qualifications: Special event organiser: 1984 - 91 (events included annual Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon, Anzac Day Marathon, 18,000 km Round Australia Relay for Australian Cancer Foundation, Great Australian Caravan Safari, Darwin-Cairns-Melbourne Relay for Melbourne Olympic Committee, international George Street Mile footrace). Consultant to Australian Rural Leadership Foundation. Facilitator for Adventure West Leadership and Survival Training activities. Trek Leader for Kokoda Adventure Treks. Developer of Kokoda Adventure Leadership Program. Sport: NSW 24-hour Ultra Marathon record holder, 1985 - 86; represented Army in Australian Rules football, tennis, squash and marathon running.

Community Activities

• Chairman of the Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce and Industry: 1993 - 94.
• Corrective and Emergency Services Committee: 1995.
• Local Government, Status of Women Committee: 1995.
• Australian Army: 1965 - 86.
• Vietnam: 1967.
• Officer Cadet School: 1968.
• Singapore: 1972 - 74.
• United States Army Exchange Officer: 1977 - 79.
• Australian Command and Staff College: 1981.
• Qualified US Army Special Forces Military Freefall HALO Parachutist.
• History with the Liberal Party: Vice-President of the Liberal Party, Camden Branch: 1994 - 95.

Presentation Topics Include

• Leadership
• Training
• Adventure
• Achievement
• Coaching