The Hon Darren Chester MP
12 Feb 16
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The Hon Darren Chester MP
Assistant Minister for Defence
Media contact
- Brie Colley (Mr Chester’s office) (02) 6277 4029
- James Cannon (Tribunal) 0433 884 238
- Defence Media (02) 6127 1999
Release content
31 July 2014
International Air Force Cadets from 10 countries are visiting Canberra today, as part of an International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) program.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Hon Darren Chester MP, will meet with the IACE cadets tonight with the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO (a former Cadet himself), in Canberra.
Mr Chester said he was looking forward to meeting Cadets from so many nations.
“Cadets are a highly regarded youth development initiative both in Australia and internationally,” Mr Chester said
“Australia’s Air Force Cadet organisation has over 6,000 youth participating in activities that build leadership, self reliance, confidence, teamwork and communication.
“The exchange encourages international understanding, co-operation and goodwill among young people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds who share an interest in aviation.”
Whilst in Canberra, the Cadets are also visiting the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House. Throughout the tour of Sydney, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, the Cadets will interact with Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), and members of the Royal Australian Air Force, past and present.
A total of 38 Youth Aviation Ambassadors from Belgium, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Korea, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom and America are visiting Australian as part of the IACE from 23 July to 6 August. At the same time, a group of Australian Air Force Cadets are also travelling overseas on a similar cultural exchange program.
Boeing Defence Australia provides substantial sponsorship to the Exchange Program.
For more information about Australian Air Force Cadets and how to contact a cadet squadron, visit: www.aafc.org.au.
Media note:
Images will be available at http://images.defence.gov.au on Friday, 1 August.
Media contacts:
Robert Curtin (Darren Chester’s office) 0477 397 878
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999