Pittwater House School Cadet Unit

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LTCOL (AAC) Ian Morgan

Lieutenant Colonel (ACC) Ian Alexander Morgan died, aged 70, at hospital in the Hunter Valley on 26th February 2009 after a long period of ill-health. He was involved in the Pittwater House Cadet Unit for over 35 years, first as Bandmaster, then Officer Commanding and finally as the honorary LTCOL of the Unit. Even in retirement from the Unit, LTCOL Ian Morgan was a familiar figure around campus; he assisted in running AAC courses at Singleton; he conducted the massed bands at the Barker College Military Tattoo 2000 and always made an effort to attend our Unit's annual camps and ceremonial occasions. LTCOL Ian Morgan inspired thousands of cadets and officers to become leaders in society and to be better citizens. His legacy continues to live on in the great standards that our cadets continue with today in the Unit.

Introduction

The Pittwater House Cadet Unit is an Army Cadet Unit within NSW Australian Army Cadets Brigade which is in turn part of the Commonwealth Government's Australian Defence Force Cadet Scheme. It provides training in outdoor and adventurous activities for students from Years 7 to 12. The Unit was established in 1972 and conducts training in a military manner from the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) Training Management Packages developed and approved by the Royal Military College in Canberra. The aim of Cadet training is service to others, leadership and self-reliance. The Pittwater House Cadet Unit is run by the senior cadets, the Cadet Under Officers (CUO), who are supervised by qualified adult Officers of Cadets (OOC).

There are over 25,000 cadets in Australia participating in Navy, Army and Air Force cadet units. Army cadets pursue outdoor adventurous activities including bush craft, abseiling, climbing, canoeing, camping, first aid, communications and rescue on a regular basis as well as unit drill and provision of guards of honour, flag parties and bands for community events. AAC Brigade level courses are also available to cadets and units can make use of Army Training Areas and shooting range facilities.

Many Pittwater House Cadets have gone on to join the Australian Defence Force or civilian service organizations at all levels with alumni who have served in the Gulf War, East Timor, Bougainville, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Cadet Scheme is an excellent recruiting ground for the Defence Force. A significant number of full-time and reserve personnel are former Navy, Army or Air Force cadets and a majority of officers in the RAN, Australian Army and RAAF were once cadets.

Aims of Australian Army Cadets:

  • to develop an interest in the Army and its traditions;
  • to encourage cadets to continue military or community service;
  • to give cadets a foundation of military knowledge and discipline;
  • to develop the qualities of leadership, self-discipline, self-reliance and initiative; and
  • to provide training that may contribute to Army common induction training.

Participation

The Pittwater House Cadet Unit is a voluntary extra-curricular activity for Pittwater House students in Years 7 to 12. To join the Unit an application form is required to be completed and signed by a parent/guardian. A Cadet Unit service fee of $25 is charged each term which enables the Unit to function and administer its programme. Usually all members of the Unit are pupils at The Pittwater House Schools.

Cadets are expected to show commitment by attending activities for at least 12 months. Cadets should be prepared to attend field training activities (usually at weekends) and wear their Army Cadet uniform with pride.

Programme

The Pittwater House Cadet Unit conducts courses which provide cadets with skills and qualities that not only help in every day life but are also enjoyable. Cadet activities include navigation, field craft, first aid, communications, fitness, basic survival, roping, ceremonial drill, teamwork and leadership practice. The Pittwater House Cadet Unit has a prize-winning marching band for cadets who are interested in musicianship and public performance opportunities.

Cadets get hands-on experience in a variety of outdoor, adventurous activities that are rarely experienced by students at other schools. Training is conducted with cadets progressing through specific training groups (platoons) each year.

  • Trainee Course and Recruit Course
    Basic skills - living-in-the-field; unit structure; turn-out; individual drill; teamwork activities
  • Junior Leaders Course
    Adventure Training/Introductory Leadership - basic navigation; camp craft; initiative training; basic leadership; first aid; progression to the rank of Cadet Lance Corporal (CDTLCPL) and Cadet Corporal (CDTCPL).
  • Senior Leaders Course
    Leadership Training - principles of leadership; planning; navigation; basic survival; progression to the rank of Cadet Sergeant (CDTSGT).
  • Pioneer Course
    Specialist Adventure Activities - Pioneer Wing: survival; field engineering; confidence activities; roping; life saving/first-aid; boating.
  • Band
    Ceremonial and Musical - the Cadet Unit Band completes the Band syllabus and also participates in the same field training that other groups undertake, providing these cadets with the same leadership opportunities as all other cadets.
  • Specialist Drill Teams
    The Unit mounts a Catafalque Party for commemorative events such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day and provides its Colour Party or Flag Party for other community occasions. Cadets from all parts of the Unit can join these ceremonial squads.
  • General activities

Throughout 2008 all cadets will participate in Surf Skills development with instruction from Manly Surf School, kayaking on Narrabeen Lake and rock climbing at the Rock House.

The last day of the 2008 Spring Bivouac was spent enjoying the activities at Jamberoo Recreation Centre

  • Camps and Bivouacs
    The unit is conducting the following field activities in 2009:
    Friday 13 February - Recruit Bivouac (School Oval)
    Tuesday 14 April - Cadets depart for PHSCU Annual Camp - Castle Mountain
    Sunday 18 April - Cadets return from PHSCU Annual Camp - Castle Mountain (Wisemans Ferry)
    Saturday 4 July - Cadets depart for PHSCU Winter Bivouac - Location TBC
    Monday 6 July - Cadets return for PHSCU Winter Bivouac - Location TBC
    Friday 25 September - Cadets depart for PHSCU Spring Bivouac - Location TBC
    Sunday 27 September - Cadets return from PHSCU Spring Bivouac - Location TBC
    2009 Ceremonial Activities
    Pittwater House Anzac Service: 9 April, Great Hall at school - whole unit
    Harbord Diggers Anzac Service: 19 April, Freshwater - catafalque party
    War Vets Anzac March and Service: 22 April, Narrabeen - band and catafalque party
    Glenaeon Retirement Village Anzac Service: 23 April, Belrose - catafalque party
    Australian Intelligence Association Wreath Laying: 24 April, Martin Place - catafalque party
    Brookvale - Mona Vale Transport Clubs Anzac Service: 25 April, Brookvale Bus Depot - band, catafalque, colour and national flag parties
    Sydney Anzac Parade: 25 April, Sydney City - band, catafalque, colour and national flag parties
    NSW RSL Anzac Day Service: 25 April, Hyde Park - band, catafalque, colour and national flag parties
    Warringah Australian Remembers Trust Battle of Sydney Service: 29 May, North Head - band
    Long Tan Day Service: 18 August, Manly - catafalque party
    Unit Ceremonial Parade: 9 September, school oval - whole unit


Adult Leaders
Officer Commanding & Training Officer CAPT (AAC) J.S. Walmsley
Admin Officer and Band 2IC LTCOL (AAC) R.V.H. Morgan
Senior Instructor Recruits (Form 7) CAPT (ACC) J.S. Walmsley
Bandmaster Mrs V. Powers
Pioneers Instructor (Form 10) Mr M. Page
JNCO Instructor (Form 9) OIT (ACC) Mr D. Collins
Stevens Company (Form 8) Senior Instructor Mr S. O'Kane
Medical Officer and Recruit (Form 7) Assistant Instructor OIT (AAC) Miss H. Morgan
Recruits - Assistant Instructor Mrs F. White
Quartermaster Mr G. Alderson
Sponsor and Commander-in-Chief
Mr Rex Morgan, AM, MBE
Founder of the Pittwater House Schools

Student Leaders
PHSCU Senior Cadet Under Officer (SUO)
Cadet CUO A. Brooke
PHSCU Regimental Sgt Major (RSM)
Cadet WO1 C. Roberts
Form 7 Cadet Under Officer (CUO)
Cadet CUO S. Walden
Form 8 SGT's
Cadet SGT K. Kilen, and
Cadet SGT A. Munns
Form 9 JNCO Course
Cadet SGT M. Frost
Form 10 Pioneers Course
Cadet SSGT A. Fathers
PHSCU Band Drum Major
SGT A. Powers
NSW RSM
WO1 S. Ferguson

Unit Contact Information

The Pittwater House Cadet Unit is located at The Pittwater House Schools in Sydney.

Postal Address: P. O Box 244, Manly NSW 1655

Headquarters is located at 54 South Creek Rd, Collaroy NSW 2097, east of the School campus at 70 South Creek Road.

Fortnightly parade time: Wednesday 1345 to 1510 (School Term only)

J.S. Walmsley CAPT (AAC) PHSCU OC

Tel: (02) 9981 5769
Fax: (02) 9971 1627
Email: walmsley@tphs.nsw.edu.au

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