Community Spirit Celebrates Triumph Over Adversity

Media Release

Thursday 8 November, 2007

COMMUNITY SPIRIT CELEBRATES TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY

A new youth-focused centre will officially open in Wellington this Saturday.

Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae and Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendergast will share the ribbon cutting duties at the opening of Wellington Cadet Centre at Cog Park, Hataitai.

The opening signals a new beginning for cadet units in Wellington.

The historic TEAL Flying Boat Building on site was destroyed by fire two years ago taking the building and much of the Sea Cadets’ equipment.

Several community groups, which had already banded together to raise funding for a new facility, now had to really strive for completion.

“It proves that it is possible for small but dedicated volunteer organisations to triumph over adversity,” says Cadet Unit Commander, Lieutenant Commander Stephen Worth.

To a cadet unit, the buildings are much more than just four walls and a roof, says Stephen.

“It’s the embodiment of our organisation’s spirit. This is where cadets parade in front of family and friends, demonstrate new skills they’ve learned, and where we display our history and achievements,” he says.

“The modern, purpose built and low maintenance buildings will allow us to continue to provide young people with quality training programmes, that result in both great personal development for the cadets and better citizens for our community.”

The units involved are Training Ship Amokura (Wellington) Sea Cadet Corps and No.1 (City of Wellington) Air Training Corps These units have been training young people in Wellington for more than 40 years, and the new centre will be a base for New Zealand Cadet Forces Units in the capital for at least the next 50 years.

Other groups will also benefit from the new facilities. The centre will be used by Amokura Dolphins and provides a secure environment for the Kupe Canoe Club and Britannia Sea Scouts, which also had buildings on the previous site.

ENDS

The Wellington Cadet Centre is located at Cog Park, 383 Evans Bay Parade.

Events begin at 1245 pm on Saturday 10 November 2007.

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