Napier cadets the best at community service

Napier RSA President John Purcell, left, celebrates with the Napier Cadet Unit representatives displaying the New Zealand Cadet Forces Community Service Trophy their unit won this year. Cadet Staff Sergeant Anthony Taueki (18), left, Cadet Lance Corporal Logan Pewhairangi (14) and Captain Cyrus Tawhara NZCF had earlier accepted the Trophy from Governor General Anan Satyanand at RNZRSA National Council 2008. Anthony said he had been almost seven years in Cadets. "I was a rebel who decided to change," he said. At 18 he has to leave but his next stop is to join his local Territorial Force battalion. Logan has been in Cadets "about a year". He said friends encouraged him to join and the best part of being in Cadets was making more friends. Capt Tawhara said he had been involved with cadets for 17 years. " When I left TF it was the first thing I wanted to do," he said.

The unit has between 50 and 60 members and he keeps them busy with community work. Eighteen have joined the military. "If you ask we'll do it," he said, speaking of community work. "Sometimes we work for money, donations to the unit and at other times just for exposure in the community. Other kids see them [his cadets] and want to join.