By NIKKI TODD
AHOY there!
IT may sound more like a club extolling the virtues of the blood-sucking undead but you won’t need garlic and sunlight to survive the Tweed Heads naval cadet club TS Vampire.
Named after two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) class destroyers bearing the HMAS Vampire name, the Dry Dock Road-based club is seeking new members to join their group.
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Geoff Mike said navy cadets was primarily a youth development organisation offering water-based activities, which was sponsored by the military.
“We are sponsored by the Australian Defence Force which does give us a military theme,’’ Lt Mike said.
“That gives us the disciplinary requirements but being navy-based we also focus on water activities and things like that.
“A lot of people think we are purely military organised – absolutely not. We are certainly military-themed but we are absolutely focused on youth development done through a series of military-style activities.’’
Water-based activities include everything from sailing expeditions, canoeing andpower boating to swimming, high ropes courses and adventure training.
“It’s a way to get the kids away from the damn computers,’’ Lt Mike said.
“We are actually going away this weekend to a YMCA camp north of Brisbane and it is going to be full of outdoor activities: they are going to come back cold, dirty, wet, freezing – they’re going to love it!’’
Kate Chisholm, whose 16-year-old son Taylor joined the TS Vampire three years ago, could not praise the group enough.
“Taylor is not a very sporty boy but he has just blossomed since he has been in the cadets,’’ Ms Chisholm said.
“It has improved his self-confidence immensely. Last year he got the top cadet award for his unit which was really good. He just loves it and is so proud to be in it.’’
Ms Chisholm said her son was considering joining the navy to study engineering after finishing school, a path the cadets are able to take if they want.
TS Vampire parades every Saturday from 9am to 3.30pm and is open to all boys and girls over the age of 12.5 years.
It costs $140 per year on a pro-rata basis, including uniform.
Phone 07 5524 2527.
