When educational pioneer Margaret McMillan commented, almost a century ago, that “the best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky,” she could have easily have been referring to the benefits of the Australian Army Cadet (AAC) program. These benefits were realised at St Hilda’s this year by the first ever Cadets unit of eighteen eager Year 10 students. In 2016, the Australian Army sought to “modernise, professionalise and grow” Australian Army Cadets (AAC) via the Transformation Program. One of the primary objectives of the Transformation Program was to grow cadet and cadet staff numbers, as well as to address some of the Australian Army’s diversity objectives. St Hilda’s
32
Anglican School Cadet Unit (SHASCU) is the first all-female cadet unit in WA and was raised as part of the AAC Transformation Program. SHASCU ran their inaugural field training weekend of 16-17 June at the Bindoon Training Area. The weekend was planned and executed by staff member, Old Scholar and ADF Liaison and Australian Army Reserve officer, Captain Diana Boswarva. Upon completion of the weekend, the Cadets graduated from the rank of Recruit to Cadet. “It was a chance to test the skills we’ve learnt on Friday afternoons during parades,” Year 10 student Prianka Behari said.
“We took part in activities such as navigation, the radio and phonetic alphabet, field signals, camouflage and disguise, and kneeling and walking without making noise. Leading up we were taught how to keep warm, and applied that knowledge at the camp as it was cold overnight!” Captain Boswarva works alongside Mrs Angie Ranson (Head of Curriculum Services and a Defence Approved Helper) to implement the Army Cadet co-curricular program, which includes a Friday afternoon training, a field weekend once a term and an annual nine day combined training exercise in the September school holidays. “Coming from an inclusive learning difficulties
