High school cadets to mark opening of JOY 98 festival with parade

18/3/98

Almost 1,000 high school cadets from Emergency Services, Police Rangers, Army, Navy Reserve and Air Training Corps will parade through the streets of Perth tomorrow from 12 noon.

The parade is linked to the official opening of the JOY 98 festival of youth, which will take place on the Perth Esplanade from 10am on Thursday, March 19.

Youth Minister Mike Board said this would be the first time that representatives of the Cadets WA scheme had presented to the general public.

The parade will leave from the Perth Esplanade at 12 noon and proceed up Barrack Street, left into the Hay Street Mall and left into William Street, and then back to the Esplanade.

The Governor Major General Michael Jeffery will review the parade in the Hay Street Mall at about 12.10pm.

Mr Board said the mounted police would lead the parade, which would include vehicles from the various services.

A fly-past by the RAAF's PC 9 aircraft would coincide with the event.

The Naval Reserve Cadets Drum Corps, Air Training Corps Drums, Scotch College Band, Presbyterian Ladies' College Band and the Police Pipes and Drums would accompany the cadets on their march through the city streets.

Cadets WA was piloted in 11 secondary schools in 1996. The program now offers six styles of cadets and has been established in 48 schools throughout the State. A total of 70 units is expected to be established by the end of this year.

The most popular cadet units have been the Emergency Services and Police Rangers, which make up more than 80 per cent of all units established.

For more information about the cadet units or JOY 98, contact Jan Watt on (08) 9476 2008.

Media contact: Peter Harris (08) 9222 9211