Exercise Outback Cadet 16

The cadets met over 200 Australian Army cadets while travelling from Sydney to Darwin via Canberra and Melbourne. They visited cadets in Sydney (who are themselves visiting the UK at the end of September) and Puckapanyal which is some three hours drive from Melbourne. They experienced widely differing temperatures from 3C in Canberra (complete with snow warning) to 30C in the bush south west of Darwin, where heat fatigue was a potentially serious issue. They took part in the daily sunset ceremony at the Canberra War Memorial, produced their own eve of the Somme service in Puckapanyal and went up the Sydney Eye to enjoy the fantastic views over the city. They also took part in guided bush walks, experienced a completely genuine aboriginal welcome to the Daly River, spent some time on R&R at the evening beach market at Mindil Beach in Darwin watching the sun set and visited the jumping crocodiles of the Adelaide River.

The cadets themselves commented on the trip as follows:

“There have been points in the trip where it makes you think about what life actually means. For example on Day 11 of the exercise we were lucky enough to have a once in a lifetime experience. This consisted of the cadets and adults going down to the Daly River and having a welcome to the land ceremony by a village elder – Miriam Rose. This was one of the best parts due to how simple but powerful it was and how special it made us all feel”.

“Ex Outback Cadet has been a once in a lifetime experience. Not only have I been able to travel to the other side of the world but to see so many places in such a large country was amazing. The lessons I have learnt and experiences I have gained will last a lifetime.”

“Ex Outback Cadet has been an eye opening and truly unique experience which has allowed myself as a British army cadet to gain an appreciation for the structure and organisation of a foreign cadet force, such as the Australian army cadet force. Not only have I learned new and applicable skills, but I have also gained new experiences which will stay with me for a lifetime”

May I on behalf of all the participants thank the Master and Company for their most generous support which enabled the cadets (and their Adult staff) to experience this once in a lifetime trip and make new friends which is one of the key outcomes.