Cadet Report 

We had a very busy start to Term 4 with the preparations of the Ceremonial Parade. As Monivae celebrated their 60th Ceremonial Parade there was much trepidation in ensuring everything was in place. The weather was not what was ordered and so with wet practices and unable to use the oval, the Cadets were certainly challenged. After plenty of practice indoors the cadets were starting to shape up well however they were still unsure whether we were able to get on the main oval. There were huge rains predicted and this ultimately was going to stop the use of the oval.

Saturday night prior to parade the PLCOMD and departing Year 12 cadets had their formal dinner which was celebrated in the Boarders Dining Room. The Reviewing Officer and old Collegian MAJ Shayne Sommerville, and dignitaries from Vic Bde HQ and 32Bn, included VICBDE COMD Colonel Campbell Smith and VICBDE RSM WO1 Lindsay Black, along with the 32Bn Commanding Officer MAJ Stephen Livingston. 

After the rain on Friday and Saturday the oval was unusable. A quick change of traffic plans and bollards on Sunday morning and the parade was held on the Chevalier Centre carpark. The weather was against us once again at lunchtime and so another change was made to move the parade inside. The Senior Cadets were in favour of the unit at least completing the march past prior to heading into the East stadium to complete the Speeches and Awards. It was great to see the resilience of the cadets to overcome and adapt quickly to changes.

A huge congratulations to all the award winners, so very well deserved.

On the first Cadet day after Parade day, we took 30 Cadets on the Senior Leadership Camp. These are the students that have decided to continue Cadets in 2023. The camp was held at Brucknell Scout Camp. We focused on Leadership and Teamwork. Cadets were challenged in a number of activities, from cam and con, ratel & navex, and a range of team building exercises. CAPT Frank Zeigler, OC 314ACU Warrnambool, supported the Cadet staff by running some of the activities on the Thursday. His expertise was very much appreciated.  He taught the Cadets how to make face and hand covers out of old uniforms. These were then used to conceal ourselves in the scrub around the campsite. They are a variation of a ghillie suit. CAPT Zeigler also ran an activity called Exercise Survivor that consisted of a series of activities we had to do once certain phrases were called out. There was a “mortar attack”, where we had dodgeballs lopped at us while under a cargo net, the “gas attack”, where we had to hide under hutchies, not letting any air in, and “sniper attack”, where we had to hide in the scrub with our ghillie gear to avoid being spotted, among many other fun activities. We were split into four groups to allow each and every Cadet to demonstrate their own Leadership skills and styles.

After being taught the principles of Camouflage and Concealment, we went out on a night walk to see if we could identify any ADS staff hiding in the scrub. The difficulty varied from one person standing behind a log, easily identifiable, to another almost burying themselves in the loose dirt and leaves to avoid being seen.

After lunch on Thursday we headed out on a navigation exercise around the Brucknell Scout Camp grounds to refresh and advance the unit’s navigation knowledge. Every Cadet had a role that we rotated at each Checkpoint to allow everyone to have a go and see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. These roles included Communications person, radioing back to HQ at each checkpoint, Pace counter, Compass officer and Medic. After a long day of avoiding the rain and getting all the activities completed, we enjoyed a movie in the large hall, where we learnt about different leadership styles.

On the final day of our camp, Cadets received a lesson on delivering 'orders'. We then ran an exercise where the Junior Cadets received hypothetical orders on a exercise which they then had to create a mud map and section-level orders. This turned out great with every cadet having a go at designing a mud map and delivering the orders in the correct format. 

As our final day was the 11th of November, at 11 AM we stopped all activities and held a Ceremony in remembrance of all those who have fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy today. The Ode was read, and the Australian flag was raised, along with a minute of silence and the singing of the Australian Anthem.

A big thank you to CDT Vaughn Barber and CDT Seamus Byron who gave up some of their spare time to assist the 315ACU cadets in selling poppies for Remembrance Day.

Sadly this year we say goodbye to some of our amazing leaders – ADJT Ben Read, RSM Jasmine Young, CUO Ella Shelden, CUO Charlotte McAdam, SGT Ruby Kelly, SGT Lachlan McArthur, SGT Xavier Cox and LCPL Justin Rundell. Their enthusiasm and leadership will be greatly missed. Thank you all for your time and effort for and with the Cadet unit.

CAPT Sarah Byron

Contributors SGT Will McAdam, SGT Haydn Riley, SGT Stella Raymond