Bivouac Camp
On Friday 20 September, over fifty cadets and staff set off to the Singleton military area to begin setting up the activities and infrastructure awaiting Main body’s arrival. Advance party in the Shore Cadet Unit plays a vital role in making the Bivouac Camp experience a memorable one. Recruit, RHQ and support company leaders have all used their combined efforts to ensure the success and safety of the camp.
On day one of Bivouac, company platoons settled into life in the Singleton army base. After getting off the bus from the headquarters, cadet organisers went straight to work getting a field activity together for Alpha company. After being briefed all cadet companies went to their night locks to set up their campsite for the first night, followed by completing fieldwork organised by the diligent staff and hardworking volunteers. These included Morse code activities, obstacle courses, and capture the flag.
Cadets are excited for day two to put their skills to the test in the field and show their persistence and determination in the various activities. With a warm breakfast from headquarters, cadets will be fuelled for the day to commit to all activities with pride, determination, and perseverance.
On Sunday night following the camp’s official start, all cadets had the unique privilege of attending ‘bush chapel’ overseen by Luke from Gadhungal Marring, who outlined the connection between ourselves and the land – the importance of recognising and savouring this connection over the course of the week, concluding in a traditional smoke ceremony where cadets were prompted to release all individual hardships and troubles into the smoke allowing for a happier future and refreshed outlook ahead. Shore’s Chaplain, Reverend Benn, followed, providing a sermon on how to live life with respect for ourselves and others, helping cadets remember God’s value, our personal value, and the value of others. Altogether a timely and moving introduction to an exciting week ahead in the outdoors.
From Monday morning onward, the cadet unit has enjoyed a combination of fresh food from catering and ration packs in the field, allowing each company to spend the week happily undertaking a wide range of activities. From navigation, high ropes courses, infiltration, code breaking, obstacle courses, and capture the flag-style activities, the combination of the week’s programme has exemplified great resilience and problem-solving in a new and challenging environment. Each day in the field is then completed by cadets moving from their night locks after packing up all their supplies and hiking to their next location over the course of the day. This determination and passion to take part in the bivouac’s programme has wielded new leadership potential, personal growth and many new friendships across both schools. Seeing the change across the unit from the start to the end of camp remains an outstanding justification of the importance and ongoing relevance of the school cadet programme in the 21st century.
As the camp enters its final day, morale continues to stay high, presented most plainly in the teamwork and determination that has developed over the course of the week away.
Written by Year 10 students Harry Dickson, Oscar Dimitropoulos and Ally Fox
Photos supplied by SCU Media Platoon