Sea cadets' busy weekend in Taranaki

TS Calliope Cadets marching in New Plymouth.

Sea cadets from Whanganui paid a visit to HMNZS Endeavour at port in Taranaki at Labour Weekend.

Wanganui Sea Cadet unit TS Calliope was also able to participate in a parade to mark the 75th Anniversary of 8 (City of New Plymouth) Air Training Corp.

The Royal New Zealand Navy's HMNZS Endeavour is TS Calliope's parent ship.

On board the cadets were given a general tour of the ship, which included a briefing on how the crew respond to fires and man overboards. They visited the engine room and the ship's bridge with the opportunity to sit in the captain's chair.

At the end of their tour on HMNZS Endeavour, Chief Petty Officer Marshall presented The Sea Cadet, a book written earlier on this year about the unit's history to the Officer of the Day Ensign Jacob O'Neill.

Following the ship visit, the cadets from all three corps of the New Zealand Cadet Forces (Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, and Air Cadets) participated in a parade to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Air Training Corp in New Plymouth.

During this parade, the cadets marched through the streets of New Plymouth to Puke Ariki Landing in front of about 200 people.

Reviewing officer Wing Commander Lawrence Fields congratulated the cadets for being part of such an "excellent organisation'.

Throughout the weekend TS Calliope cadets interacted with members of the NZDF and their counterparts in different corps of the New Zealand Cadet Forces, with more exercises and activities such as flying and bush camp activities being talked about and planned with the units in New Plymouth and Stratford.

TS Calliope cadets are aged between 13 and 15. If you wish to join, contact TS Calliope at ts.calliope@cadetforces.org.nz . People over 21 can volunteer as an NZCF Officer or a Supplementary Staff member.