Big Regional Awards For St John Cadets

 

BY JULIA WADE

Leaders of a local youth organisation have described 2018 as nothing short of ‘massive’, a year of growth, change, awards and promotions which were all reflected at the group’s recent end of year prizegiving ceremony.

St John Mangawhai Cadets were again presented with the ‘Division of the Year in Northland’ for the second time in a row and the coveted ‘Spirit of St John Trophy’, awarded to the Division which embodies St John values of friendliness, being inclusive, respectful, hard-working, positive and enthusiastic. 

The Cadets joined forces with Mangawhai Army Cadets this year, working together on projects including a combined float for the recent local Christmas parade, and has also officially become an accredited Duke of Edinburgh award unit.

St John Mangawhai Divisional Manager, Anastasia Tinsel, says 2018 has been ‘a whirlwind’. 

“It's been a fantastic year within the Division, so many big things have happened. We had three teams finish in the top three District Competitions at their level, which meant they got to represent the district in the Regional competitions,” she says. “We also had two Cadets promoted to Sergeant and Corporal, another Cadet compete and attain a spot on the national squad, and two more Cadets making it onto the Northland District Official Colour Party, which is made up of the best Gold Drill Cadets in the District.” 

Leaders of the Mangawhai division also had success with one being voted ‘Leader of the year in Northland’ and two others running the St John Regional Gold Badge Camp.

The year also saw tragedy however with the sudden death of 16-year-old Kerikeri Cadet Dion Hodder, who passed away in October after contracting meningococcal disease. 

“We sadly lost our District Cadet of the Year and very much loved friend Dion,” she says. “We’ve honoured him though by introducing the Dion Hodder Memorial Cup at the end of year prizegiving.”  

Tinsel says the Division trialled different ways of running the groups this year which she believes increased enthusiasm and encouraged more maturity among the Cadets, with older members taking on the leadership role and younger Penguins ‘upping their game’ and emulating the seniors. 

“Our groups are now arranged more into learning styles which means all our Cadets are easily able to achieve the badge requirements in a way that works best for them,” she says. “We had a fantastic prize giving, the Cadets were all very happy and the parents were thrilled to see the difference in the whole group since they were last on parade.”

Cadet of the Year and winner of the new Dion Hodder Memorial cup, Samantha Tinsel. – PHOTO/Anastasia Tinsel

Proud ‘Blue’ cadets Pyper Buxton, Harrison Tinsel, Kaya Brown-Robson and Cailin Graham.  – PHOTO/Anastasia Tinsel