Wednesday, September 19, 2012

THE State Government decision to scrap funding for Emergency Services Cadet Program has taken away a community program that keeps 65 per cent of Hughenden’s school students off the street.

The ES Cadet Program, which ceased immediately across the state following budget cuts made last week, was started in 1994 as a precursor to the SES for young people and expanded in 2002 to include the QFRS and QAS.

But a spokesman for Community Safety minister Jack Dempsey said the number of cadets who went on to become ES volunteers was only about 10 per cent, making the program expensive for very little return for volunteering in Queensland.

Hughenden Cadets Co-ordinator Juley Anchen said this wasn’t the case in Hughenden, where 70 per cent of the local fire crew were ex-cadets, with 40 per cent of the cadet group going on to join the SES.

She said the community had rallied to fight for the program which kept the youth involved in a productive activity and encouraged an attitude of giving back to the community. 

``We had a very good response from parents, Council and the community at our meeting last Thursday – so much so that we have started a petition,’’ she said.

“This program is particularly important for a town like Hughenden, where we are trying to retain our youth and the activities for them.

``The life skills these students gather from the cadet program is more than evident when you see how well these kids carry out their normal lives.’’

The program is open to young people who are in Year 8 or above and under 16 years old.

Of the 60 students enrolled at Hughenden State High School, 41 are involved in the weekly cadets, where they are taught emergency skills.

Mrs Anchen said the numbers had never fallen below 35 during the seven years she had been involved in cadets.

Emergency Management Queensland Assistant Director-General Bruce Grady said the decision to end the program was not an easy one as it has a direct impact on many young members and their leadership teams.  

``While I am extremely proud of the work done by the Emergency Services Cadet Program, I have determined that within current priorities and resourcing limitations, the program can no longer operate,’’ he said.

``The sudden ending of the program may be difficult for cadet members and their leaders to understand and accept.  I encourage any cadet or adult leader that is having difficulty dealing with this decision to take advantage of volunteer assistance services run through our Embrace Program.  To access this service, please contact 1300 309 508.

``I wish to recognise the cadet members, adult leaders, Local Cadet Advisory Committees and my own Youth Development Officers and Youth Program staff who had worked together to  build a program to be proud of.’’

Flinders Shire Council Acting Mayor Ninian Stewart-Moore said he hoped the program could be reinstated down the track.

“While I’m disappointed that the highly successful and, in Hughenden, well utilised cadet programme has ended, I fully support the State Government's strategies to get its finances back in order,’’ he said.

“There will be short term pain for all sectors of the community, however we need to be patient and lobby hard for the reinstatement of this or similar programmes in the future.”

LNP North Queensland Branch President Jane McNamara also attended the Hughenden cadets meeting last Thursday (September 13, 2012), when the funding cut was announced to the group, and has forwarded a letter to Campbell Newman's office in support of the local program.

For more information contact Flinders Shire Council Communications Officer Alexis Gillham on 47412942 or Juley Anchen on 0458556338