By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A GROUP of Geelong naval cadets are in Sydney for an once-in-a-lifetime experience commemorating the centenary of the first naval fleet entering the famous harbour.
Drysdale couple and lieutenant commanders Richard and Helen Trigg are leading Geelong’s Fleet Review contingent as part of Australian Naval Cadet’s presence at the celebrations.
Richard is executive officer of an Australian Naval Cadet camp at Holsworthy Army Barracks, keeping 230 cadets from around the nation organised and on schedule.
Helen has a number of roles including the counselling team, publicity team and the activities team.
Richard said local cadets had been invited to the Kirribilli House reception for Prince Harry, managing to get “up close” to the visiting royalty.
The cadets provided the 100-strong squad for the royal guard for the Governor-General’s parade on Saturday for Quentin Bryce and Prince Harry.
The Triggs and their cadets marched in a Freedom of Entry parade for HMAS Parramatta and Penguin, partipated in an All Navies parade and attended a Garden Island Open Day.
“This won’t happen again in these cadets’ lifetime,” Richard said.
“The only other similar event was the Bicentennial but there are sights here we will never see again. The sail-past and fireworks show was fantastic.
“The cadets have had the opportunity to get up close and personal to all the activities. Two of them went up in a historic aeroplane flight over Sydney and we have had cadets on the Windward Bound tall ship and going over warships for visits.
“The Governor-General spoke to the cadets when she inspected the parade.
“It’s tiring. They are up at 5am, busy all day, but it’s definitely worth it.”
Richard is the second in command of the cadet camp, keeping a close eye on all its operations and with divisional managers reporting to him.
As well as the cadets, about 30 to 40 divisional and Navy HQ staff are on hand.
“We’ve been planning this for six months on top of our normal workday jobs, so it’s been quite an effort,” Richard said.
When he is not involved in the activities of Geelong’s naval Training Ship Barwon, Richard is chief financial officer at Golden Plains Shire while Helen is an immediate past district governor of Rotary International.
