A GROUP of Country Fire Service cadets from the Limestone Coast were among a select cohort of young volunteers to stand guard at Adelaide’s South Australian National War Memorial over the weekend.
The Kingsley and Kingston/Lacepede groups sent five cadets each to attend the vigil on North Terrace, which started at 6.30pm Saturday and continued through until Sunday morning at 5.30am.
Kingsley Group cadet coordinator Ray Coutts said local cadets have been allocated the opportunity last year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic being declared, adding he was grateful for the chance to carry out the duty in 2021.
Mr Coutts said the Limestone Coast cadets joined other cadets from around the state for the duty, which involved taking guard and marching around the memorial in 30-minute rotations.
Despite tiredness, sore backs and feet, and the cold, Mr Coutts said he was proud of his Kingsley cadets – Nathaniel Abbott, Josh Virgo, Tomas Dowdy, Heath Ortiz and Cooper Millard – for their outstanding service.
“I presented Cooper Millard, in front of his mother, with the Anzac medal for his outstanding contribution to the vigil, he did 15 rotations throughout the 12 hours,” Mr Coutts said.
“The cadets stayed for the dawn service, then we left for home – safe to say it was a quiet bus trip home.
“As cadet coordinator, I’ve expressed how proud I am of these five inspirational cadets.
“Their dedication will make me proud to stand beside them in the years to come on the fire ground.”
