Local Emergency Services Cadets from Childers and Gin Gin recently took part in the Cadet Games at Sandgate PCYC, with three cadets coming away with medals.
William Vicary and Tahlia Neill from Gin Gin and Ashton Anderson from Childers were awarded medals along with their other team members for different events that made up the games.
Gin Gin Emergency Services Cadet Tahlia Neill joined in to form a team with the Rural Fire Service Cadets, and her team came away with the PCYC Award of Excellence.
Gin Gin cadet William Vicary and his mixed team, ‘Random Name’, came home with First Place in the mixed team’s challenge, and Childers Cadet Ashton Anderson and his fellow mixed team competitors left with the Mixed Teams Medal of Allegiance.
Emergency Services Cadets Childers Local Cadet Coordinator Jack Leeson said the Cadet Games, which were held annually in Brisbane and Townsville, were a fantastic way for the cadets to show off the skills that they have learnt whilst being a part of their respective units.
“The day involves a range of activities from different Emergency Services, and there were over 200 Cadets participating at this year’s Cadet Games in Brisbane, all vying for the title of Ultimate Cadet Crew,” he said.
“This year was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Cadet Games that has been run.
“There were Cadet Units from PCYC, Australian Navy, Australian Air Force, Australian Army, Surf Lifesaving, Rural Fire Service.”
Jack said the Emergency Services Cadets were also given the opportunity to talk with current Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Air Operations Crew as part of the event to gain insight into their roles.
“It was especially great this year because we were able to have a Bell 214 Belly-Tank Aerial Firefighting Helicopter from McDermott Aviation land on the field at the start of the event, and that then turned into one of the event rounds.
“Cadets were able to chat to the pilots and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Air Operations Crew about the helicopter and aerial firefighting in general.”
Gin Gin Emergency Services Cadet Tahlia Neill said she enjoyed meeting new people as part of the event and taking part in the different activities.
“I enjoyed meeting new people as well as all of the activities that were prepared,” Tahlia said.
“My favourite activity was the patient handling, where we had to use a spinal board with three buckets of water and we had to go through an obstacle course while trying not to spill the water.
“It was the first time meeting the other members so winning or getting a medal was the last thing I expected.”
The experience provided an opportunity for all of the Emergency Services Cadets who attended to broaden their social networks by making new friends and meeting new people.
William Vicary, who is a Gin Gin cadet, said the team building activities were a highlight of the games for him.
“I enjoyed the unique experience of competing in fun team building activities, first with people that you know fairly well and then with complete strangers,” William said.
“I also enjoyed talking with cadets from different units and services and learning what they do when they meet.
“When my team was announced as winners in the mixed teams challenge, I was confused at first, then shocked, and then kind of proud but I did wonder if they had calculated the scores correctly!”
Childers Emergency Services Cadet Ashton Anderson said he was proud to win a medal, with it a reflection of the hard work they had put in during the games.
“I enjoyed meeting new people and competing against them in various activities later on,” Ashton said.
“It was a great feeling knowing that our team earned these medals because of how well we worked and how hard we tried when competing.”
The Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) is funded by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and is delivered by PCYC Queensland, with 24 units located in various areas across the state.
The Emergency Services Cadets are for youth aged 12-17 who want to learn skills from a broad spectrum of emergency services providers including the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Police Service, Red Cross, Rural Fire Service Queensland, Queensland State Emergency Service and Surf Life Saving Queensland.
The Childers Emergency Services Cadets group meet weekly, on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm during the school term, and the Gin Gin Emergency Services Cadets meet weekly, on Mondays from 4 pm to 6 pm during the school term.
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