Ashburton Cadet Unit

16/06/2026

On Thursday night ACU had a very busy night with a lot of visitors. We were privileged to have the AC Southern Area Captain Peffers attend and award the members of the second placed Ffennell commonwealth shooting team 25/26 their coins. The team were WOII Wessel Blignault, SSGT Ashleigh Clarke, CPL Lologa Tiumalu and CDT Ellyana Wright.
He also presented SSGT Clarke the William Robert Fryer Memorial Coin. This is awarded to the NZCC member who has exceptional shooting skills as well as leadership and instructional skills. She is the third member of the unit to win this award.
We had SQNLDR Morris in to do our efficiency inspection.
FSGT Inns was there in his uniform for the last ever time with him retiring from the airforce. We were extremely proud to be his last uniform engagement and wish him well.
We also had the president and vice president of the Ashburton RSA in to tell the cadets about a social night they will put on for them and 24 sqn during term 3. Some very excited cadets.
An amazing night from everyone. Great work team.

16/06/2026

14/05/2026

Last night at our parade we had some presentations and a promotion. CDT Lielani Tiumalu recieved her basic proficiency shooting badge, CPL Charlie Lawn was promoted to SGT and SSGT Ashleigh Clarke (then WOII, pictured accepting the South Island Shooting trophy last year) has been awarded the William Robert Frier Memorial Prize. She is the third winner in the units history. Producing steller cadets and people.

14/05/2026

Of course a video of Hayden Paddon from the street sprints weekend.

14/05/2026

Over the weekend of 9 and 10 May members of ACU and whanau ran the food sales stall at the Street Sprints and cleaned up all the loose straw on Sunday night. The team did an amazing job and had the best seat in the house to watch Hayden Paddon win and set a new lap record too. Fun times and fundraising to boot.

02/05/2026

25th April 26 dawned fine and warm in Ashburton. The atmosphere across the cenotaph was respectfully quiet with a large number of families and children watching on. Members of ACU took post and held firm through the chilling morning. The lights casting shadows of soldiers behind like sentinels of the fallen standing with our youth as they stood and fell in their youth. Lest we Forget.

02/05/2026

Great day shooting on the range. Sunny but not too hot. Some scores up in the 80's. New cadets starting to come off the sandbag already. CDT Lielani Tiumalu got her second 60 for her basic proficiency shooting badge. CDT Anna McFarlane got her first 60. CPL Robertson decided to set himself a new challenge and learn to shoot right handed when he is a lefty. Pretty good scores too a 60 and a 70. Most importantly LCPL Quinlan Spies finally cracked the elusive 80 with one target even getting a 24 out of 25.

02/05/2026

On the 23rd April we promoted Cadet Keshav Narayan to LCPL, Acting CPL Liam Robertson to CPL and CPL Robertson received his marksmanship shooting badge.

28/03/2026

ACU members are out in the community on our annyal Lest we Forget activity doing anzac services and a tidy up of war memorials before Anzac Day. Started at Peel Forest, then onto mayfield and now we are at Mt Sommers with 5 more to go. It's amazing to see how well looked after all the sites are now. Our first year almost 10 years ago we needed to do a lot of cleaning. Now they are all fantastic.

24/03/2026

On the 12th March 3 members of the unit were awarded their shooting badges. CDT Storey was awarded the Basic Proficency Shooting badge for 60 or more in 2 shoots. CPL Tiumalu was awarded the First Class Shot badge for 70 or more in 2 shoots. A huge congratulations to LCPL Moala who was awarded her Marksmanship badge for a score of 80 or above in one shoot. Onwards and upwards team.