Defence

Personnel

Build and they will come

The recent upgrade of cadet units in the remote parts of the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland is part of a broader Defence and Australian Defence Force Cadets strategy to increase Indigenous participation in cadets across the entire top end of Australia.

By Gai Brodtmann

Cadets parading at official opening of the new Wadeye unit.
Photo by WOFF Brian Ashton

“We want to do more to encourage participation in cadets in remote localities, particularly amongst Indigenous youth,” said Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy at this year’s Senior Tri-Service Cadet Forum.

Building “fit for purpose” accommodation for the top end cadet units is an essential part of that strategy.

Ensuring the units are there for the long haul is also critical.

“Embedding units in Defence’s existing infrastructure in NORFORCE and 51 Far North Queensland Regiment is essential to an ongoing cadet presence in the northern part of Australia,” said Head, Cadet Policy, Major General Mick Fairweather.

“It also signals to the local communities that we are serious about Indigenous youth development.

“Our recent or planned investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrading cadet units across the top northern part of Australia shows we are serious.

“Placing purpose-built facilities on Defence bases in remote localities also ensures the Australian Defence Force and the ADFC can foster and cross pollinate with cadets and provide them with better support, longevity and security,” he said.

As part of the push to increase Indigenous participation in cadets, Major General Fairweather and other ADFC and Cadet Policy Branch members recently completed a tour of the top end of Australia.

“We officially opened the new facility in Wadeye, and visited other units in various stages of development or tipped for development in Nhulunbuy, Bamaga and Thursday Island. The aim of the tour was to review accommodation and get a sense of the issues in the local communities,” he said.

“Our discussions with teachers, cadet staff, elders and other Indigenous community members revealed a significant level of goodwill for the ADF and cadets. This is reciprocated by support from the NORFORCE and 51 FNQR Commanding Officers.

“We are doing all we can to increase the participation of Indigenous youth in cadets, and we are tailoring our programs to meet their cultural needs.

“For instance, in Thursday Island the community doesn’t use the standard cadet water craft, like dinghies, that cadets use down south due to the huge tides and dangers with crocodiles. The local community uses powered craft.

“So the cadets could be taught skills that mattered in their community and were culturally significant, Navy bought a number of sturdy, plastic water craft with outboard motors. Now, the cadets learn water craft and navigation, and relevant community-building skills like motor maintenance.

“Defence is serious about increasing Indigenous participation in cadets and the ADF. In December this year, the: COs from NORFORCE, the Pilbara Regiment and 51 FNQR; Navy, Army and Air Force representatives; and ADFC and CPB members will participate in a workshop to explore ways to improve our support for these remote communities, now and in the future.

“We see accommodation enhancement as a pivotal part of our Indigenous youth development strategy and will continue our investment to upgrade units across the north of Australia,” he said.

Top end tour

The new Wadeye cadet unit.

The watercraft used by Thursday Island.

Wadeye welcome sign.
Photos by WOFF Brian Ashton

Wadeye

As part of the top end tour, Major General Fairweather officially opened a new cadet facility for the 70 Army Cadet Unit in Wadeye honouring a three year commitment made by the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey.

The NORFORCE Wadeye base was constructed in 1994 and cadets have been parading out of this facility. The facility had no air conditioning or provision for classroom furniture or teaching aids and was small and poorly lit.

The new $190,000 purpose-built facility, which was barged in and took three weeks to construct, is air conditioned and consists of two offices and a large breakout area for cadet lessons and training. The shipping container used to transport the building has been fixed to the ground to meet cyclone safety standards, and is being used as a storage facility.

Wadeye unit already has 20 cadets signed up, the majority of them local Indigenous youth. Attendance at cadets, as with swimming in the local pool, depends on attendance at school.

Nhulunbuy

Next stop on the tour was the almost complete $120,000 facility in Nhulunbuy for TS Melville Bay cadets, this time on the NORFORCE Nhulunbuy base.

Until recently cadets were training and parading out of two old Vietnam War-era Lysaghts. The new facility comprises dedicated cadet buildings and a separate boatshed.

Bamaga

Major General Fairweather and ADFC members then visited 146 Army Cadet Unit at Bamaga in Cape York. The unit had previously been located at Bamaga P-12 school. Last year, 51 FNQR made facilities on the base available to the unit and accommodation upgrades are currently being assessed.

Thursday Island

The final leg of the tour was a visit to 51 FNQR in Thursday Island, where construction will soon begin on converting an existing boatshed on the base into a classroom and training area for the TS Carpentaria cadets, at an estimated cost of $250,000.

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