On Norfolk Island, the cadet unit is more than an extracurricular activity. It is part of the fabric of island life.
And for more than 25 years, much of the leadership that underpins the unit’s growth flows from one person – Captain Tim Sheridan (AAC), Officer Commanding of the Norfolk Island Cadet Unit (230).
Tim has been involved with the unit since 1998. In 2024, he was named Norfolk Island’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of his long-standing voluntary service to young people. On a small island of just over 2,000 people, that contribution is significant.
With only one school on the island – Norfolk Island Central School – the cadet unit draws from a limited but tightly connected cohort, which means a significant proportion of the local teenagers will either join the cadets or know someone who has.
The program draws teenagers into structured leadership training and, in many cases, sets them on a Defence pathway. It also anchors the island’s commemorative traditions and maintains visible links between generations.
Career pathways and capability
‘The kids see it as a good stepping-stone,’ he says.
That stepping-stone does not always lead to a military career, but it consistently builds capability.
‘Quite a few,’ Tim says, when asked how many former cadets have gone on to join the Australian Defence Force. ‘There’s most probably a couple of dozen. It’s quite a big cohort of ex-servicemen here on Norfolk Island.’
He says that pathway remains active today.
‘We’ve got a fellow down in Royal Military College, Duntroon, at the moment,’ Tim says. ‘He was with the unit a couple of years ago. He’s been down RMC for 12 months.’
Another former cadet is currently undertaking Defence testing. ‘One of our senior cadets has been undertaking her testing in the Air Force in the last couple of weeks.’
Weekly training provides structure and discipline. Cadets develop leadership skills, teamwork, navigation and fieldcraft. On a small island where opportunities can feel geographically limited, the program builds confidence and direction.
But the role of the unit extends beyond training nights.
Cadets are highly visible on key commemorative days. On Norfolk Island, Tim says those ceremonies are not symbolic gestures. They are gatherings that matter in a place with such a tangible connection to the world of Defence.
That connection is one reason the unit is supporting Soldier On’s March On challenge this year.
March On calls on Australians to walk or run 96 kilometres across March to raise funds for veteran mental health. For this tight-knit population, it’s a cause that resonates deeply.
The island’s strong veteran presence means the impacts of service – including the long-term mental health challenges some veterans and their families experience – are well understood locally.
Honouring service
For the cadets, participating in March On reinforces the values already embedded in their unit’s program: responsibility, service and respect.
In an environment where supporting veterans is part of life, March On simply provides another way for the island’s youngest generation to stand alongside those who have gone before them.
To support the progress of the Norfolk Island Cadets, you can track and add to their fundraising efforts here, along with other teams and individuals on our March On leaderboard.
