Army Cadets step forward for Remembrance Day

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Army Cadets step forward at Remembrance Day ceremonies around the nation

Australian Army Cadets have again stepped forward to play a major role in Centenary of Armistice Remembrance Day services across the nation in 2018.

Units big and small from Port Hedland in the far west to Norfolk Island in the Pacific and everywhere in between have supported the historic day by providing catafalque parties and other ceremonial support to services in towns big and small.

In many cases, the Australian Army Cadets ensured an Army was represented at these important events.

Commander Australian Army Cadets Brigadier Michael Ashleigh praised the turn out by cadets on Remembrance Day.

“Again the Australian Army Cadets has provided important representational support for Army at this year’s Remembrance Day activities in communities throughout the country,” Brigadier Ashleigh said.

“I congratulate all participating cadets and supporting Adult Cadet Staff for their efforts.

“Our cadets are often the only Army representation at many of these important events and in doing so play a vital role in Army’s engagement with local communities.

“Undertaking this role on such a nationally significant day as the Centenary of Armistice is a credit to all involved and greatly appreciated by Army,” he said.

An example of the AAC’s support to Remembrance Day this year was at Portland in New South Wales.

A small town nestled in the Central Tablelands, Portland is representative of many Australian rural centres which provided volunteers for the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

At this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony, 220 Army Cadet Unit provided a Catafalque Guard for the Portland RSL and Flag Orderlies for the Lithgow RSL Service.

For a small unit of 37 youth members this was a big logistical exercise for three Adult Cadet Staff to support.

Warrant Officer Class One (AAC) Adrian Markson observed: “The cadets’ drive to support the two local communities and RSLs to remember sacrifices of the fallen and returned service personnel was amazing.”

The Centenary of ANZAC aspect of the day was not missed by Cadet Under Officer Libby Balzke: “All the service personnel were coming back at different times due to being repatriated from Europe at different rates, with no big aircraft network that we enjoy today.”

Pausing to reflect on all the luxuries and peace we enjoy today, Cadet Sergeant Peter Waru said: “Many families lost their relatives or got relatives back that were not the same as when they left. Also, they didn’t know what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was or how to treat it.”

Meanwhile in Norfolk Island in the Pacific, as it does every year 230 Cadet Unit participates and provides support to a range of local commemorative activities including Remembrance Day services.

This year Remembrance Day services were conducted at the Kingston Memorial on Remembrance Day itself, and at the Norfolk Island Central School on Tuesday 13th November.

At the school ceremony, selected members of the 230 Army Cadet Unit performed ceremonial tasks as part of the service.

The cadets were led by SGT Mirabell Creek (Year 10), and included Cadet Ben Elliott (Year 7), and Cadet Riley Quintal (Year 7).

They very proudly supported the service which also included wreath laying at a memorial which is located in the school grounds. The memorial lists all those Islanders killed in wars to date, and flanked by flagpoles with the Australian and Norfolk Island flags.

Attending the ceremony were all school students, parents, members of the community including ex-service personnel, the President of the NI RSL Mr Luke Howlett, the Secretary of the NI RSL Ms Jess Miller, school Principal Mr Brett Carr, and Deputy Ms Sally Johnson.

The commemorative address was given by Mr Roly Kinnear, a Korean War veteran and representative of the NSW Korea Veteran Association. A dedication was made by Mr Kinnear to Norfolk Islander PTE Ronald J McCoy who was KIA in Korea on 26 Jul 1953 at the Battle of Maryansan. It was also mentioned that Norfolk Islanders committed the highest per capita population in the Commonwealth to the war effort in both World Wars.

Brigadier Ashleigh said the examples of support provided by the AAC in Portland and Norfolk Island typified the great work being done by units across the country.

“The high regard in which the cadet’s participation in these important community events is held is a wonderful reflection on the cadets themselves and the Adult Cadet Staff who deliver our program week in, week out,’ Brigadier Ashleigh said.

“Events such as Remembrance Day provide an excellent opportunity for Australian Army Cadets to support their communities in a way that no other organisation can in terms of traditions, skillsets and national identity.

“With new army cadet units being started in regions which haven’t had one in a long time, we hope to be able to provide more community support in the future.

“A large number of Remembrance Day ceremonies were supported across Australia which also enabled many of our cadets to gain a unique insight into the discipline required to represent their community with pride on any stage.

“The experience gained from these sorts of activities means a huge step to building confidence for young adults,” Brigadier Ashleigh said.

Caption: Cadets from 202 ACU Portland (NSW) supported the Lidcombe RSL Sub-branch service at Lidcombe Remembrance Park.

Caption: Cadets for 251 ACU Armidale (NSW) formed up for the first time in Armidale. They were joined by cadets visiting from Tasmania who were conducting a ceremonial guard at Central Park.

Caption: Cadets for 514 ACU Port Hedland (WA) provided and ceremonial support at the Port Headland (WA) Remembrance Day Service

Caption: Cadets from 225 ACU Murwillumbah (QLD) took to the town centre to raise funds before they participated in Remembrance Day Services to honour service men and women from WW1.

Caption: Cadets from 236 ACU at North Lakes (NSW) provided ceremonial support to the Remembrance Day service.

Caption: Cadets from 230 ACU Norfolk Island (NSW) on parade at the Kingston Memorial on Remembrance Day.