Margaret hopes for Navy Career

Cadet WO Margaret Allen receives her farewell gift from TS Sirius. CMDR John Shevlin CO of HMAS Penguin and titular head of NSW Cadets makes the presentation. Photo by POPH Bill McBride

By Graham Davis

July four is a big day for 280 million Americans. It will also be an important day for Australian Naval Cadet Warrant Officer Margaret Allen, of the Brighton-based cadet Training Ship Sirius.

Margaret, 19, will go before a panel of senior naval officers to determine if she is “officer material” and will be admitted to the Royal Australian Navy’s officer training college, HMAS Creswell.

“I’d like to be a seaman officer,” Margaret, a resident of Canterbury and a former student at Dulwich Hill High School, said.

Margaret, believed to be the first cadet warrant officer in naval cadet units in NSW, comes from a naval family.

Her father Christopher served in HMAS Vampire and the carrier HMAS Melbourne.

On Saturday, June 21, Margaret attended her last parade at TS Sirius.

During the ceremonial parade, CMDR John Shevlin, the Senior Naval Officer in NSW, and the titular head of the naval cadets in NSW, presented Margaret with a mounted montage of Sirius activities.

Margaret has been a cadet since 1998.

The Royal Australian Navy realises the naval cadet organisation is a valuable source of officers and sailors and a large number go on to permanent careers in the RAN.

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