MEET THE CUOS
14 PLATOON COMMANDER CUO ALEX ROWNTREE (1st)
8 PLATOON COMMANDER CUO LUCAS O’REGAN (4th)
2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO
2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO
12 PLATOON COMMANDER CUO SKANDAGURU MURUGABALAJI (2nd)
6 PLATOON COMMANDER CUO CAMERON SCHULTZ (3rd)
2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | LCPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO
2020/21 | CDT (JLC) 2021/22 | CPL (SLC) 2022/23 | SGT (CWC) 2023/24 | CUO
What responsibilities does your rank entail? We are responsible for the training and development of all boys in the PLT. What may surprise some is that we interact very little with the first and second years on a professional level in the sense of developing their skills, rather we commit most of our time to ensuring our NCOs (LCPLs, CPLs and SGT) are equipped with the necessary skills to perform their duties. As such, with well-trained members of rank around me, we don't teach drills or deliver lessons, instead, we maintain morale, provide advice to upskill boys, and create a sense of unity within the PLT.
What was your favourite experience during the training parade? CUO MURUGABALAJI “Seeing the boys in my platoon doing abseiling for the first time has been a highlight. It was amazing to see some of them willingly go outside their comfort zone to take on a challenge.”
CUO O’REGAN “Doing the confidence course in my first year of cadets. It was a hot day, and cooling down and getting muddy with my mates was really fun, yet still a bit challenging.”
CUO ROWNTREE “Doing the confidence course in my second year. Pushing each and every one in the PLT to do their best, creating a good bond amongst the PLT and instilling teamwork and persistence. “
CUO SCHULTZ “Aside from the plethora of fantastic activities offered by the corps, I have particularly enjoyed meeting people within my own and other year groups across my time in the corps. I have formed fantastic friendships and gained invaluable experience from older boys who have mentored me on my journey.”
What was your favourite experience during the AFX? CUO MURUGABALAJI “Playing cards at a makeshift poker table late at night with my mates was something. And cooking all sorts of pancakes over the fire with whatever else we had brought out our skills in cooking.”
CUO O’REGAN “Doing abseiling at camp on my first AFX. I was terrified of going over the edge, but after I did it, I found it easy and went two more times. It’s something I’m looking forward to doing again at Cadet Camp this year.” CUO ROWNTREE “My most memorable experience from AFX was Abseiling for the first time. It was good to overcome the challenge and it brought our PLT closer together.”
What is your advice to the cadets? CUO MURUGABALAJI “Dive into as many opportunities as you can with enthusiasm, especially things that you haven't done before. Join that specialist platoon, and go for that promotion. You'll never know what you can find until you broaden your horizons a little bit. “
PROMOTION WO2 Lachlan Jones
CUO O’REGAN “While your first and second years of cadets often feel challenging and hard at times, you'll look back on these years as your favourite time in the Corps. The memories you make during these years are unbeatable, and you don’t realise what you have until it’s gone.”
CUO ROWNTREE “Embrace as many opportunities as possible at King’s, have a good attitude towards the TKSCC and try to step out of your comfort zone. Put in 100%, some of your best memories of Kings will be made of your time in Corps.”
CUO SCHULTZ “Corps is about mindset. If you maintain a closed mindset insistent upon looking for all the downsides of corps, you'll probably find them. But you'll also miss all the great things around you! Yes, it's hot on the parade ground, your pants chaff and you'll never need to know how many metres away from the campsite a latrine has to be dug, but don't let these little things discourage you from seeing the mates around you, the opportunities to try something new or the fact that the corps is truly a once in a lifetime experience for many.”
How do you feel about the promotion? I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to be able to step up and lead roping platoon in a more active position. How did you achieve the promotion? Throughout the last few training parades I tried my best to do what I could for the other boys in my platoon, tried to make their corps experience as fun and engaging as possible. Tips for younger cadets? My piece of advice for new cadets is to give as much effort as you can into cadets as possible. You’re only here for a limited amount of time, it’ll be a truly be one of the experiences you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
SPECIALIST PLATOON SPOTLIGHT SES CUO Cooper McGlashan
What does SES do during training parades and AFX? Our first-year SES members will work towards completing their job readiness and other necessary training to be able to join other SES members outside of the Corps and serve within the community. For the second years, we look at PIARO (participate in a rescue operation) which is quite complicated but goes through all the scenarios and training to rescue people from under cars, trees etc. We will also get our crosscut chainsaw license and do a bit of 4WD.
What’s SES’ role in TKSCC?
Why should people join SES?
SES (State Emergency Service) is a fairly new Platoon to the Cadet Corps but mainly looks at emergency situations such as storm damages, missing person search, flooding and tsunamis.
SES PLT is a great platoon for those practically-minded, leadership-oriented individuals who enjoy taking charge of a team to complete a mission. It is also a great way to complete DoE and its service component.
A Trip into the Past
Phillip Oliver Hobson (TKS 1938-39) Cinematographer
From 1950-1953, 17,000 serviceman from all branches of the Armed Services fought as part of the United Nations (UN) Multinational Forces with South Korea against threats from the Communist North Korea. For 4 years after the war finished Australians remained as Military Observers and still remains a presence through the military Attache.
A view from the deck of the Australian destroyer HMAS Warramunga (I) towards the island of Cho Do, Korea. The American landing support ship (LSSL 107) is visible in the distance. Painted by official war artist Frank Norton during his first Korean patrol, this image is evidence of the artist's concern to convey a sense of the Korean coastal landscape and waterways where the Royal Australian Navy was operating. Cho Do was one of 6 islands identified as strategically important by the UN Forces.
Phillip Oliver Hobson (TKS 193839), a member of the 1939 2nd VIII and 3rd XV in 1939, was a boarder in Macarthur House. He was a member of the 67th Australian Infantry Battalion. Between 19501953, Phillip spent over 600 days in Korea, firstly as a Warrant Officer Class 2 in the Royal Australian Army Service Corps before being transferred to the 3rd Battalion. The Royal Australian Regiment in 1951. From October 1951- December 1954. Phillip was part of the Australian Ancillary Unit. His service for Australia did not end with the end of his service in Korea as during the 1960’s he also took part in the Malaysian Conflict. In later life, Phillip was a cinematographer. He passed away in 2006 aged 84.
MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AFX?
ADJ Daniel Payne “My favourite movie of all time is Star Wars : A New Hope. It’s a classic and you can not go past it. ”
CUO TULLY SALMON
“Truman Show. One of my favourite movie and I am sure that everybody will love it.”
CDT GUS COLLINS
“I love Forrest Gump. I love Forrest Gump so much that I want to watch it again during AFX. I love Forrest Gump, best movie. I love Forrest Gump, GOAT movie.
FOOD REVIEW
PADRE'S WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised."
“The food tastes so nice. Perfectly cooked snags with some lettuce on top. No wonder I joined Food Security.” – CPL AYUSH KUMAR
– Hebrews 10:36
As in doing God's will, in the cadet corps, endurance is essential to carrying out tasks that support the corps' mission. Cadets demonstrate dedication and discipline through persistence in their training and service, getting ready to reap the benefits of their labours. Cadets must persevere in order to succeed and preserve the principles of their corps, just as Hebrews emphasises waiting patiently to receive promises.
MOMENTS FROM TODAY'S PARADE
MEDIA AND DESIGN 2023-2024 CUO Peter Wang WO2 Marcus Madrid NEWSLETTER TEAM SGT Justin Cho CPL Yiming Bai VIDEOGRAPHY TEAM SGT James Harrison SCPL Vikram Goel SCPL Chris Jaensch SCPL William Giorgione CPL Athithan Vignakaran CDT Prangan Das
PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM SGT Christian Teo SCPL John Awakian SCPL Edward Huang LCPL Edward Wong LCPL Charmin Abhayawickrama EDITING TEAM SGT Kevin Xiong SCPL Caden Anbu CPL Tom Tang