By Cadet Petty Officer Tara Whelan –  TS VOYAGER

When I was 14, I decided I needed to find a hobby, something to do on my weekends and to fill in my spare time.

To meet new people. To learn some new things. To have some fun!

I didn't want to wear a netball skirt, run around chasing a ball with a tennis racquet or dance around in a costume like some of the other girls did at school.

I wanted to be different. So I joined the Australian Navy Cadets. When I first walked through the gates of TS Voyager in April 2002, I had no idea that my life was about to change forever. 

Although my first night as a cadet was many years ago, I recall being so nervous because I didn’t know any of the other cadets. I was so shy! In fact, I was one of those people who stood in the circle and listened to everyone else talking and I never spoke unless someone asked me a question! I was even too scared to stay on my first camp the week after I joined, so I made sure I didn’t bring my belongings so they couldn’t talk me into staying! The cadets and dedicated staff were always sure to include me in everything and before long I had learnt most of their names and made some friends.

I have undertaken many exciting things since then. In fact way too many to list them all.

The highlights include:

• a three-day sea ride aboard HMAS Kanimbla in November 2002;
• completing ‘Small Arms Training’ at HMAS Cerberus in 2004 and 2005;
• receiving second place in the CadetNet story competition, for which I was flown to Parliament House in Canberra and won an I-Pod Nano; and of course
• winning Victorian RSL Cadet of the Year for which I travelled to Borneo.

I would have never achieved what Lieutenant Commander Noel Baker and Lieutenant Lisa Foley have enabled me to achieve without their endless dedication.

LCDR Noel Baker taught me a lot of what I know and instilled confidence in me by encouraging me to achieve things I never thought I was capable of.

LEUT Lisa Foley had faith in me and gave me responsibility and pushed me because she saw potential in me that I never saw in myself. I have never had the chance to personally thank either of them but I truly owe them a lot as they have always believed in me, instilled confidence in me, encouraged me and facilitated the development of my leadership ability. I would not be where I am today without Noel and Lisa who gave, and still continue to give their time so freely to the Australian Navy Cadets.

These days, I am in my third and final year of my nursing degree at university and I am in the process of joining the Royal Australian Navy as I aspire to be a Nursing Officer.

In my years as a cadet, I have grown from a shy and quiet young girl, unsure of my place in the world to a confident and independent adult with teamwork and leadership skills as a result of the dedication of the staff.

I turned 20 at the end of May, which not only means my teenage years are over, but so are my days as a cadet.

‘Ageing out’ may mean you must cease being a cadet, but the experiences, the training and the development received as a cadet will remain with us throughout life.

I believe my story represents the purpose of the Australian Navy Cadets as an organisation committed to the development of youth. I am extremely proud to have been involved with this organisation and would like to thank the staff for their support, encouragement and for sharing their knowledge.

No amount of thanks would ever be adequate, but I would like you to know that I would not be half the person I am today without you.