Sgt Jason Stephens with the ceremonial infantry sword presented to the 135 Australian Cadet Unit today; the sword is usually carried by a Cadet Under Officer during ceremonial parades

February 17, 2013

The 135 Australian Cadet Unit held an open day at its Wondai HQ today to allow would-be members and their families to find out more about the Army Cadets.

The unit’s commanding officer, Captain (AAC) Ron Fischer, said 35 people came along, including several children interested in joining.

Members must be aged between 12 1/2 and 17 to join.

135 ACU has members from Kingaroy to Mundubbera. It parades every second Sunday at the 25/49 RQR army base in Wondai.

Coinciding with the open day, a special ceremony was also held to present the 135 ACU with a “pace stick” and a ceremonial sword to use in their training.

The items were presented to the unit by Don Davey, from the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL sub-branch, and were formally accepted by cadets Sgt Cory Davey and Sgt Jason Stephens.

A pace stick is used by a Regimental Sergeant Major to measure distances on parade grounds for ceremonial parades. The infantry sword is usually carried by a Cadet Under Officer during ceremonial parades.

Lieutenant (AAC) Shane Davey said the items would be used as training aids by the cadets and when not in use would be kept mounted in a presentation box at the Cadet Unit.

He said over the school holidays, Sgt Cory Davey and Sgt Jason Stephens had completed Warrant Officer and Cadet Under Officer courses which covered the correct usage of the two items.

Two other cadets had also completed a sergeant’s course, and one trained as corporal.

Cadets Charlie Wardrop, Murgon; Aidan Penfound, Kingaroy; and Jacob Lange, Kingaroy

Cpl Nathan Kranz, L/Cpl Nico Vos, and L/Cpl Adelaide Hockenhull, all from Kingaroy
Lieutenant (AAC) Shane Davey, Sgt Cory Davey, Sgt Jason Stephens and 135 ACU Wondai Commanding Officer Captain (AAC) Ron Fischer