Saturday, 5 April 2025
Government House
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

Bujari Gamarruwa, Diyn Babana, Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In greeting you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of these lands and waterways, I pay my respects to Gadigal Elders past, present, and emerging.

Welcome to Government House. As Honorary Air Commodore, and Patron of No 22 Squadron Association, I especially welcome our four Australian Air Force Cadet finalists from Newcastle, Inverell, Canberra and Sydney here for this Award Ceremony and the presentation of the 3 Wing Governor’s Sword of Honour for Excellence.

In 2016, my predecessor, Governor Hurley made the inaugural presentation here in the Ballroom, to Cadet Under Officer Sarah Welsh, from 331 Squadron, Coffs Harbour.^[1] Sarah went on to do a degree in aeronautical engineering at the Australian Defence Force Academy.^[2]

It has been my honour since 2019 to acknowledge finalists with certificates and to present the Sword to “recognise the Cadet who has best embraced the air cadet experience, at both their Home Squadron and through Regional and Wing Activities and who has taken all of the opportunities the organisation has to offer and, in turn, offered those opportunities to others.”

The sword that you see in front of you, bearing the Royal Cipher of King George V, was ‘gifted’ to 3 Wing by Mr Geoffrey Cottee, a former Wing Commander in the Air Training Corps. Wing Commander Cottee joined the Corps as a Cadet in 1947 at the age of 14, returned as an Instructor in June 1956 and served until 1994.^[3]   

The Cadet Corps, initially known as the Air Training Corps was established in 1941 and was part of the Royal Australian Airforce Reserve to train young men aged 16 - 18 to join the RAAF, Australia then being at war.^[4]  

Sponsored by the Royal Australian Air Force and modelled on its structure, the Australian Air Force Cadets have been open to males and females since 1982 and in 2018, the age for entry was lowered to admit young people between the ages of 12 and 18. 

Today, some 3,200 cadets around Australia, led by Cadet Warrant Officers and Under Officers like Harry, Laura, Liam and Lisa serve our community – in honour guards, as flag bearers and during ceremonies for ANZAC Day marches, vigils and catafalque parties, and assist at ceremonies on Australia Day, VP Day, Vietnam Veterans’ Day, National Servicemen’s Day, Bomber Command, Nurses, and Remembrance Day. They also take part in a number of charitable and fundraising activities, including raising money for Legacy and Cancer Research - at all times embodying Air Force values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. 

Activities such as these promote leadership, teamwork, self-reliance and initiative – skills which will be further enhanced under the Australian Air Force Cadets’ new cadet and adult training program with its focus on leadership and communication using facilitation, rather than instructional methods, which, I am told, is the most dramatic shift since the introduction of the previous program in the 1980s.

To our four finalists: Thank you for your service to 3 Wing! You are outstanding exemplars of the Australian Air Force Cadet motto: “Inspiring today, leading tomorrow.”^[5] From an eligibility pool in NSW and the ACT of 98 Cadets, shortlisted from a competitive candidature of 18 nominees, you are the four outstanding finalists who together have shown a dedication to excellence, a commitment to embracing change and challenge, and that trait common to truly great leaders - the desire to learn from your experiences, and to inspire and encourage those around you.

The Cadet who is awarded the Sword of Honour, if appropriate to their rank, may choose to use the Sword at relevant ceremonial occasions at their Squadron and the annual 3 Wing Parade over the next twelve-months.

To the recipient of the Sword of Honour and to each finalist, Congratulations!

[1] https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A7A8PZgTi/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/share/161vEZzfpP/

[3] https://www.facebook.com/3wingaafc/posts/2006151876209698/

[4] https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/who-we-are/history

[5] https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/who-we-are