Douglas Henderson OAM, RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley AM and Tony Stevenson OAM.
From serving as an Army medic in Vietnam to creating opportunities that have inspired thousands of young Australians, Douglas Henderson OAM has dedicated his life to veterans, remembrance and passing the values of service to the next generation.
For Douglas Henderson OAM, the values of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice are more than words. They have helped shape a lifetime of service to veterans, young Australians and the wider community.
Douglas served in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War, where he was seriously wounded while tending to fellow soldiers during Operation Bribie in 1967.
In the decades since, his commitment to his fellow veterans and his country has never wavered.
From advocating for returned servicemen to founding the Kokoda Youth Foundation and helping thousands of young Australians discover the enduring values of the Kokoda legacy, Douglas has continued to find new ways to serve.
His outstanding contribution has now been recognised with a 2026 RSL ANZAC of the Year Award.
The awards are presented annually to Australians who have served their fellow Australians and the community in a positive, selfless and compassionate manner.
From service to advocacy
Born in Sydney in 1946, Douglas enlisted in the Australian Army in 1964.
He served in Vietnam in 1967 and was seriously wounded while serving as a medic and attending to infantry casualties from 6 RAR during Operation Bribie on 17 February 1967.
Douglas was medically evacuated to Australia and eventually discharged from the Army in 1968.
His support for the veteran community continued long after leaving the Army.
After moving to the Gold Coast, Douglas became President and Advocate of the Vietnam Veterans Federation at Nerang in 1998, supporting ex-service members as they navigated life after service. He had previously served as National Vice President of the organisation in Sydney and held positions on the National Suicide Prevention Committee and DVA’s Operational Working Party.
Keeping the Spirit of Kokoda alive
A defining moment came in 2002, when Douglas attended an RSL State Conference and heard an address about the bravery and sacrifice of the young Australian soldiers who fought during the Kokoda Campaign.
Determined to ensure their story was remembered and understood by future generations, Douglas set out to turn that inspiration into action.
In 2005, he founded the not-for-profit Kokoda Youth Foundation, initially financing the organisation and its first exploratory trip to Papua New Guinea with his wife.
His vision was to use the story and values of Kokoda to create life-changing experiences for young Australians, guided by four principles: courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.
The Foundation began taking young people to Papua New Guinea to walk the Kokoda Track, starting with a group of 12 students and carers.
By 2025, more than 1,300 young people and their carers had completed the PNG Challenge.
What began as one man’s vision has grown into an organisation reaching thousands of Australians each year.
A legacy for the next generation
The success of the Kokoda Youth Foundation led to the development of the Kokoda Challenge, with endurance events designed to give young people and adults an opportunity to experience the values of the Kokoda Spirit for themselves.
Beginning in the Gold Coast hinterland, the Challenge expanded to locations including Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Port Macquarie, Sydney and the Sunshine Coast.
In 2025, the event celebrated its 20th year, with more than 4,000 participants on the Gold Coast alone.
The Foundation has also expanded its youth development work through outdoor education centres including Camp Kokoda near Rathdowney and Kokoda Park near Laidley.
Across its programs, outdoor education experiences and fundraising events, the organisation continues to share the story of Kokoda while encouraging young Australians to develop resilience, leadership, self-belief and a commitment to others.
Douglas remains involved with the organisation in an advisory capacity, ensuring the vision that inspired its creation continues into the future.
His extraordinary contribution to veterans, their families and young people was recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2013.
Honouring those who served
Douglas’s commitment to remembrance has remained an important part of his work.
In 2023, he and the Kokoda Youth Foundation were asked to help relocate the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Kokoda Barracks, Canungra, from within the Army base to a position outside the main gates where it could be more easily accessed by the public.
Douglas led the vision and delivery of the project, bringing together the Defence community, local organisations, industry partners and volunteers.
The upgraded memorial was dedicated on 1 December 2023 and provides a permanent and accessible place of reflection honouring Australians who served in Vietnam.
Its ongoing care by young people involved with the Kokoda Youth Foundation also creates a powerful connection between generations, ensuring the legacy of those who served continues to be understood and respected.
The spirit of ANZAC
Douglas’s contribution reflects a lifetime of service – from caring for his fellow soldiers in Vietnam and advocating for veterans after returning home to creating opportunities for thousands of young Australians.
What began with a determination to ensure the story of Kokoda was not lost has grown into an enduring legacy, passing the values of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice from one generation to the next.
More than 20 years after founding the Kokoda Youth Foundation, Douglas’s vision continues to shape young lives, honour those who served and ensure the Spirit of Kokoda remains a living legacy for future generations.
Congratulations, Douglas, and thank you for a lifetime of service to veterans, young Australians and the wider community.
