St Paul’s School Army Cadet Unit Annual Marching Out Parade

Chairman of the School Council, Mrs Heather Walker; Headmaster, Dr Paul Browning; Teachers; Students; Cadets,

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which we are gathered today, and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.

Congratulations, Cadets, on an outstanding Parade.

And my sincere congratulations to you all for making, and keeping, your commitment to Cadets.

Cadets are a powerful influence and shaper of character.

The lessons ingrained in Cadets – of self-discipline, self-confidence and the willingness to help others, will serve you well throughout your lives.

I believe they are also the lessons of good and effective citizenship.

I say this from a degree of personal experience, having served as an Army Cadet at Churchie from 1962 to 1965.

Then I joined the Citizens Military Forces, in the Queensland University Regiment, to 1971.

These were, for me, life defining experiences.

As a Cadet you are trained to deal with challenges and to seize opportunity.

Integrity, loyalty and mutual respect are the watchwords of a successful Cadet.

A significant proportion of our senior officers in the Defence Force began their careers as Cadets, and as I move around the community as your Governor, when I encounter inspiring and dedicated leaders, on speaking with them, I often discover cadetship in their personal history.

Last week I attended the Centenary of the Battle of Beersheba in Israel, and it was a privilege to be in a position to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the Australian Light Horse in that defining battle of the Sinai Palestine campaign.

The courage, endurance and mateship our forebears displayed at Beersheba, like that shown so conspicuously at Gallipoli, and on the Western Front, is their legacy to us.

It is enormously heartening to see the Cadets here at St Paul’s School honouring our military traditions.

Part of my experience of Cadets was enduring friendships.

I hope that is your experience as well.

Today’s Parade is a splendid endorsement of what is being achieved in the Cadet Unit here at St Pauls.

I commend your Headmaster and all school leaders involved in the ongoing success of the Cadet program.

Congratulations Cadets, and I wish you all well for the future.