When the community gathers to mark Remembrance Day on Wednesday 11 November, some of the ceremony’s most important roles will be carried out by a group of young volunteers.
Members of the Logan City Community Cadets have spent months preparing for the occasion and will play a significant part in the Greenbank RSL service, continuing a long tradition of supporting local commemorative events.
Commanding Officer Trevor Schulze said the unit had again been invited to assist with the ceremony, which honours those who have died for Australia in wars and conflicts.
“We support the Greenbank RSL. We’re doing the main service for them on Remembrance Day,” he said.
The cadets’ involvement goes well beyond simply attending the service.
A team of seven cadets, accompanied by a staff member, will take on ceremonial duties that require precision, discipline and extensive practice.
“They’re going to be supplying the guard or… the catafalque party. They’re the guys that stand around the centre and do all the fancy drill movements,” Mr Schulze said.
While the public sees only a few minutes of drill on the day, those skills are developed through countless hours of training.
The unit regularly participates in commemorative services throughout the year and must maintain a high standard for each event.
“They’ve been training virtually all year round because we supply the catafalque party, the guards for Vietnam Veterans Day… Peacekeepers day, and now we’re doing Remembrance Day,” Mr Schulze said.
For the young people involved, Remembrance Day is also an opportunity to put into practice the values promoted through the cadet program.
Alongside leadership, teamwork and discipline, cadets are encouraged to understand the importance of community service and remembrance.
“It gives the kids a sense of pride and a purpose… part of our motto is serve, remember, and learn. And this is virtually all that put into one, when they’re doing these ceremonies,” Mr Schulze said.
The cadets’ contribution doesn’t stop when the ceremony ends.
In the lead-up to Remembrance Day, members of the unit, along with staff and parents, will be helping raise funds through the annual Poppy Appeal.
“We’ve got two days we’re spending down at Grand Plaza with poppies and donations,” Mr Schulze said.
Mr Schulze, who has been involved with the cadet unit since it was established in 1998, said programs such as the Logan City Community Cadets provided young people with practical skills and experiences they might not otherwise receive.
As Remembrance Day approaches, the dedication shown by the cadets serves as a reminder that honouring veterans is not limited to a single day each year, but is carried forward by the next generation through service, remembrance and community involvement.
The Remembrance Day service starts at 10.45am at the Greenbank RSL Sub-branch Memorial Gardens, 54 Anzac Avenue, Hillcrest.
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