Cadets

MAJ (AAC) CONAN BLAND officer commanding 172 tss acu director of cadets

The Southport School Army Cadet Unit has a posted strength of 332. Alpha Company is made up primarily of new recruits, supported by experienced NCOs capable of delivering a recruit induction package. Bravo Company consists of second year cadets, supported by NCOs capable of delivering a more advanced, creative training program with a military theme.

This year, once again, the unit showed a strong commitment to supporting the local community through attending a large number of commemoration services. Anzac Day saw 450 Army, Navy and Air-Force Cadets attend the Southport Street March. This is a special event, supported by up to 20,000 community members who line the streets and the grass verges of the cenotaphs.

The Brisbane March is supported by TSS Cadets due to our custodianship responsibilities whilst holding the 39th Battalion Banner. Although there were very few veterans marching behind the famous militia battalion banner this year, our boys will continue to honour the memory of the Kokoda veterans through participation in this march. Rather than send cadets in the traditional uniform, we sent members of the historical guard party dressed as Light Horseman from The Great War. This pays homage to the Old Boys that died in World War One, particularly in the 100th year since Armistice. Other commemoration services supported by both the cadets and the cadet band include the Korean Veterans Service and the Kokoda Service at Cascade Gardens. This year, in addition to the Historical Guard and Flag party, the service was attended by 25 PNG students as part of our boarding community who celebrated the laying of pavers to recognise the Pacific Island Battalion and Pacific Island Regiment members who made the ultimate sacrifice during The Second World War. Alpha Company complete a recruit training package delivered primarily from junior NCOs. The common military lessons include basic and advanced drill, field craft, navigation, movement between terrain, survival skills and structure and rank in the AAC. These lessons are mixed in historical presentations of the School and unit as a way for the boys to appreciate, and importantly respect the 110 year history of cadets at this school. Bravo Company completed an alternate training program which maintains recruit skills while building their skills and knowledge throughout the year. Bravo Company also has a greater emphasis on team building activities that provide opportunities for all members regardless of rank to show the qualities of leadership we hope to bestow upon the boys. This year, the Annual Camp was held at Greenbank Training Area. The camp was supported by 25/49 RQR and nine RQR soldiers providing instructional support, in addition to bringing military weapons and equipment for the boys to use.

All cadets rotated through activities at Greenbank and Enoggera Military bases. The boys got “hands on” experience with the latest EF 88 Austeyer Rifle. They participated in basic weapon handling before heading to the Weapons Training Simulation Range (WTTS) where they fired on a simulated range to test their marksmanship principles. This was an amazing opportunity for the boys to use a facility that is crucial to the development of our ADF. They also got to see other infantry weapons, including M18 A2 Claymore, M72 A6 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon, MAG 58 General Purpose Machine Gun, and Carl Gustav 84mm Rocket Launcher and F89 Light Support Weapon. With names like these, it’s no wonder that boys thoroughly enjoyed the lessons.

At Enoggera, cadets were pushed outside their comfort zone by underaking training on an overwater obstacle course. The course is suspended up to five metres over a large pool and there are no safety ropes to stop the boys from falling – if they fall they get wet!

External ex-special forces soldiers also facilitated survival lessons and tracking which focused on identifying and interpreting signs in the bush. A mobile climbing wall was a very popular activity where boys raced to the top of a 40-foot structure as was a huge inflatable movie screen that was used during the evening. External contractors and TSS Staff also ran a series of competitive problem solving activities that included a ‘giant grid’ and ‘escape the room’ activity. The “escape the room” activity was particularly popular where cadets rotated through three themed rooms that pose a series of puzzles that must be solved to “escape”.

This year, the Cadet Graduation Parade was a fine affair with the boys putting on an excellent display of self-discipline as the 39th Battalion flag fluttered high on the flag pole adorning the Clocktower. The date of the parade (24 October) fell close to the centenary of Armistice. A crowd of approximately 500 watched on, made up of mostly parents, while over 100 veterans from WW2, Korea, Vietnam and modern conflicts assessed the self-discipline, dress and bearing of the current generation. The boys lived up to expectations and put on a fine performance. The Senior Cadet Graduation Dinner followed the parade, with the veterans, community groups and staff meeting to celebrate the service of our students who committed to the program throughout the last five years. During the dinner, Mr Fennell gave a rousing speech to the boys on the importance of brotherhood and mateship. It was very well received by the boys who are looking forward to transitioning from school to adult life.

During the Parade we remembered Old Boy Captain Leslie Russell Blake who died on 3 October 1918, just five weeks before the end of the war. Captain Blake was a notable adventurer, having been a member of Sir Douglas Mawsons’ 1911-1914 Antarctic Expedition as a geologist and cartographer. He enlisted as an artilleryman before being commissioned as an officer in the 5th Field Artillery Regiment. Captain Blake was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry during fighting at Pozieres before tragically being killed by a stray shell in the village of Nauroy on 3 October 1918.

LEUT KEN CONNORS ANC commanding officer, training ship southport

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n 2018 Training Ship Southports Ship’s Company included one hundred and twenty-three cadets, five appointed officers and three unit support volunteer instructors. Sixty-five recruits began training with a large majority completing extra training sessions allowing them to be promoted, moving from the rank of Recruit to Seaman.

Throughout the year the Cadets have been involved in a range of Flotilla activities. These events provide the cadets opportunities to meet and interact with other cadets in the South East region. Cadets attended laser skirmish, Tall Ship cruises, live firing, Navy ship visits and promotional courses. Cadets from TS Southport performed particularly well in the training courses, outshining the majority of the cadets on course. A special mention must go to Chief Petty Officer Connor Pilcher and Leading Seaman Jackson Lees for their remarkable efforts.

This year our Annual Continuous Training Camp was conducted on the School grounds with groups moving out to various activities each day. As always, we utilise this time to focus on developing the necessary skills for water competency as well as a variety of challenging training and team building exercises. Although we intend to be back at Stradbroke Island for our camp in 2019, we took the opportunity to partake in some activities that we don’t normally get to enjoy. This year, in addition to sailing, the boys were able to head down to Currumbin for a high ropes course, spent time at the Spit stand-up paddle boarding and a visit to the Maritime Museum up in Brisbane. A big thank you to the Senior Cadets that demonstrated plenty of leadership and organisation throughout in the form of overnight duties and a huge improvement in drill.

TS Southport’s commitment to community service is unsurpassed as the cadets again took on the task of providing catafalque parties, flag bearers, ushers and support staff to a variety of events around the Gold Coast. This year, cadets were involved in Anzac Day Services at TSS and St Hilda’s, four 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. The unit has definitely lived up to their motto of “Leading through Service”.

CPO Connor Pilcher and LS Mark Mackenzie led the unit in the Annual Tri-service Parade this year. This is the first time in twenty years TS Southport has had a fully appointed Chief Petty Officer in its ranks, a very special time indeed. All Cadets rose to the challenge that a parade such as this provides and all are commended for their tremendous performance. Greater participation by cadets has resulted in increased numbers of cadets

seeking promotion. The interest and participation in additional training sessions run by LEUT Chiu-Hing Chan for motivated cadets has been pleasing and, as such, we have been commended on a number of occasions on the calibre of cadet the unit is producing. They are great representatives for the unit and the School as a whole. I take this opportunity to thank our staff for their commitment and willingness to give their time to offer an exciting and challenging program for the cadets. If it was not for the experience and patience of our staff, the program would not be what it is today. I also wish to thank the Year 12 cadets who chose to remain in cadets and who have really contributed to the success and good name of TS Southport. To CPO Connor Pilcher, LS Mark Mackenzie, AB Archer Southwood, AB Xavier Doerr, AB Oscar Gallagher, AB Oscar Weatherseed, SMN Jason Bolton, SMN Michael Jiang, SMN Finley Gray, SMN Tom Edmunds, and RCT Daniel Hummelstad; a huge ‘Bravo Zulu’ to each of you as individuals and to all of you collectively for supporting the unit, passing on skills and modelling positive attitudes. Training Ship Southport is richer for your contributions.

As we look to the future, we are excited about entering our 24th year as an Australian Navy Cadet unit at The Southport School.