Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Good morning, it’s with great pleasure I welcome you here today outside the Town Hall. I feel honoured and privileged to be asked to review the parade and address you on this very special occasion for Hutt City and our local New Zealand Cadet Forces units.
I want to thank all those on parade for the honours accorded to me this morning, and may I say how smart you look in your uniforms. It’s a rare but welcome sight to see such traditional pomp and ceremony in our city!
The Cadet Forces have a long history in Hutt City. The TS Tamatoa Sea Cadets and No. 2 (Hutt City) Squadron Air Training Corp were established in 1941. This was followed later by the City of Lower Hutt Cadet Unit in 1990. The three units were granted the Freedom of the City in 1991.
For over 60 years, cadets between the ages of 13 and 18 have been trained in a structured, but enjoyable way, in such things as teamwork, self-reliance, resourcefulness, perseverance and the ethic of community service. These values and standards continue to be instilled in today’s cadets, which gives me great heart for the future. Young people who have these opportunities are those who grow up more resilient and confident.
The Council is working hard to make Hutt City the best little city in New Zealand. The place where you can have your pavlova and eat it too. The Cadet Forces play an important part in this by providing young people with things to do and teaching them important life skills along the way.
For these reasons, the Council is proud to support the Cadet Forces through its Community Development Fund.
I want to mention the important role of the officers who volunteer their precious time - without them the Cadet Services couldn’t survive.
Today’s parade is a perfect opportunity to recognise the service of three officers in particular, with the presentation of long service awards.
Squadron Leader Wayne Buckingham of the No. 2 (Hutt City) Squadron Air Training Corp, who has served 36 years. Today, he receives the 3rd clasp to the Cadet Forces Medal.
Lieutenant Commander John McAlpine of the TS Tamatoa Sea Cadet Unit receives the 2nd clasp to the Cadet Forces Medal for 28 years service, and
Sub Lieutenant Brian Chin, also with the TS Tamatoa Sea Cadet Unit, receives the Cadet Forces Medal for his 12 years service.
Congratulations on your 76 years of combined service. It’s a milestone certainly worth celebrating, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than with this parade.
I look forward to presenting the awards soon.
I want to acknowledge the parents, families and friends of the cadets. You can be very proud of these young people. Thank you for your support for them and the Cadet Forces as a whole.
Thanks also to members of the public for coming along today to watch the parade. Isn’t this just great?
I especially want to thank the cadets. You are a fine group of young men and women and a credit to the uniform you wear. Some of you will go on to serve in our armed services, and I wish you well with that.
A former cadet, Flight Lieutenant Torin Kells of Wainuiomata, will be part of the New Zealand Defence Force contingent taking part in a ceremony at London’s Hyde Park tomorrow to unveil a memorial commemorating the enduring bonds between New Zealand and Britain, and their shared sacrifice during times of war.
Whatever you choose to do in life, I’m confident you will do it well, thanks in part to your time as a cadet.
It is my pleasure now to invite Squadron Leader Wayne Buckingham, Lieutenant Commander John McAlpine and Sub Lieutenant Brian Chin up to the dais to receive their awards.