Services – Army Cadets

This year, Bravo Company spent the camp in a jungle location halfway up the mountain at Hidden Creek. After hiking to their camps they were instructed to build shelters out of deadfall for the night and sleep in platoon locations. The canopy and undergrowth was so thick that at night no light pierced the canopy and the boys couldn’t even distinguish the outline of their hands in front of their face. During the evening the boys were also treated to a visit by Father Jonathon Whereat, who conducted a “bush service” following a night patrol.

Other activities conducted on camp include survival-skills training, lowwire obstacle course, 40-foot vertical cargo-net climb by night, hostage rescue scenarios, laser tag, lantern stalk, bridge/ catapult construction tasks and an obstacle course. Overall we had almost 300 boys enjoy the camp over four days eating ration packs and living in the field. The Cadet Graduation Parade was a great success with over 450 Cadets from Army, Navy and Air Force showing immense self-discipline and skill in front of a large crowd of parents and VIPs. The parade also provided a great occasion to launch the book, To Honour Your Name.

To

honour your name

Judith A. Nissen

This book was commissioned by the school to recognise the life and service of 51 Old Boys who paid the ultimate sacrifice during WWI. The parade is traditionally used to celebrate the service of the cadets who have committed to the cadet program through to Year 12. It is also an occasion used to honour our affiliation with the 39th Battalion Association by parading their banner and flying their flag from the Clocktower. This year we had 39th Battalion veterans and nonagenarians, Alan “Kanga” Moore, John Ackhurst and Jim Stillman, attend the parade. The parade was outstanding with the entire contingent moving as one throughout the complex series of drill movements. Nintey-four-year-old veteran Alan Kanga Moore described the event in a letter to the school. “What a wonderful parade!! In my mind it was the best I have seen in my nine consecutive years of attendance. Congratulations on the way you have achieved such improvement.”

The year was topped off with 35 boys attending a Junior Leaders Promotion Course at Galipolli Barracks in Brisbane and 18 boys attending a Senior Leadership Camp at Hastings Point in Northern NSW. These camps returned in the last week of school.

The most important change to the program this year is that all the cadets have obtained a greater understating of the meaning and purpose of their service. They understand that service within the program represents something much larger than the individual, but a sense of reverence given to all those who have been before them and respect for all those who follow.

LEUT STEVE ROBERTS ANC Commanding Officer, Training Ship Southport

In 2014 Training Ship Southport’s Ship’s Company included 96 cadets, five appointed officers and three unit support volunteer instructors. Twentynine recruits began training and most completed requirements that will allow them to be promoted at the completion of the Cadet Graduation Parade.

During our Annual Continuous Training camp on South Stradbroke Island cadets were offered a variety of challenging training and team-building exercises. Our senior cadets were also given the opportunity for more independent sail training aboard the restored sailing vessel Mr Percival. All cadets experienced both mental and physical challenges during the camp and the increased teamwork and selfconfidence was obvious by the return leg of camp.

Our motto of “Leading Through Service” unit was once again well demonstrated through the support of numerous community commemorations and services. This year cadets were involved in Orientation Day at TSS, Flotilla Training Days, ANZAC Day Services at TSS and St Hilda’s, three separate community ANZAC Day Commemorations and marches, Battle of the Coral Sea Commemoration, Korean War Veterans’ Service, the Kokoda Anniversary Service, Victory in the Pacific Service, Gold Coast Navy Week Committee Commemoration Service and Remembrance Day Ceremonies.

Highlights have been many in 2014. For some lucky cadets the highlight was the opportunity for sail adventure on Sail Training Vessel South Passage. For others, the opportunity to undertake greater physical challenges on camp, and several of the inter-watch challenges here at school were among their most memorable moments.

Navy Cadets at The Southport School have marked our 20th anniversary this year. Student interest in joining Navy Cadets at Training Ship Southport has never been stronger and I believe we continue to be Australia’s largest Navy Cadet unit.

I take this opportunity to thank our staff for their commitment and willingness to give of their time to offer an exciting and challenging program for the cadets. I also wish to thank the Year 12 cadets who chose to remain in cadets and who have really contributed to the success