Each year, hundreds of young Australians receive a letter from Commodore David Greaves that they cherish.

They are Navy Cadets, many of whom joined the youth development program at 12 years old, and are now ‘ageing out’ having turned 18.

Commodore Greaves, the Director General Australian Navy Cadets (ANC), outlined the effort he puts into the annual tradition.

“I ask the commanding officers of their training ships, or units, to let me know what each cadet plans to do the following year so I can personalise each letter,” he said.

Setting aside time to hand write each note is something the soon-to-retire one star regards as a privilege.

“It’s about saying congratulations, recognising their time in cadets and also sowing the seed if they ever want to return as an adult volunteer,” Commodore Greaves said.

“It shows them that someone has taken time out to be interested in them, which has been my approach since I assumed responsibility for Cadets almost five years ago.”

Taking charge of about 3000 cadets has been a change of tempo for the 63-year-old who joined Navy in 1981 as a seaman officer.

It follows an extensive seagoing career, including as the first Commanding Officer of HMAS Stuart from 2001-03, leading the operation to intercept the drug smuggling North Korean cargo ship Pong Su.   

“I’m the only person who has an organisation which spans the breadth of people from the age of 12 to 87,” Commodore Greaves said. 

“One of our volunteers until recently was 87 and a couple are in their 80s.”

'We try to give them as many experiences as possible, from powerboating and sailing to flying drones, robotics and bridge operations.'

The Royal Australian Navy took over cadets in 1974 from the Navy League of Australia as Navy’s way of “giving back to local communities”.

“Our cadets look like sailors, just very young ones,” Commodore Greaves said. 

“They dress in full uniform and become the face of Navy in their local area, marching on Anzac Day and other significant events.

“We try to give them as many experiences as possible, from powerboating and sailing to flying drones, robotics and bridge operations. 

“We try to instil service and leadership, as well as a sense of purpose, whether it’s through ironing their uniform or taking part in colours at the start of parade and sunset at the end.

“The cadets love marching too – for some it’s a stepping stone to a military career, an opportunity to lift the hood of the organisation and see what’s underneath.”

There are 79 training ships across the country, including a few temporarily closed due to a lack of adult volunteers, usually in smaller regional towns.

“It means the cadets can’t parade, which is a real blow to them,” Commodore Greaves said.

One of those units is TS Carpentaria on Thursday Island, which Commodore Greaves said was one unit he “would always die in a ditch for”.

“Most of the cadets are Torres Strait Islanders and it’s a real area of disadvantage,” he said. 

“Last year we were able to get half a dozen of them on board the Young Endeavour from Thursday Island to Darwin, which was an incredible experience.”

While retirement looms on June 30, Navy will never be far away, with Commodore Greaves’ wife, Commander Bronwyn Ferrier, still serving, and their oldest son, James, enrolled in the New Entry Officer Course at HMAS Creswell.

After 45 years’ service, the model train enthusiast will be swapping warships for locomotives, sorting through mounds of boxes in a downstairs rumpus room at home and pursuing his passion for a different mode of transport. 

And while the letters might stop, they will always be remembered and cherished by the many former cadets whose lives they have touched.