Selwyn Times: March 21, 2017

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Tuesday March 21 2017 15
ews
Celebrations for squadron
Air Training
ashion
Corps
anniversary with several functions
this weekend.
Christchurch secretary
This starts with a meet and
Neil Wech writes
greet on Friday night, a combined
wing parade with all four
about the history
of the organisation
Christchurch-based units participating
on Saturday, followed
ahead of a series of
by a formal dinner in the Air
events celebrating its
Force Museum of New Zealand
75th anniversary this
on Saturday night.
Gardening
weekend
Registrations for the weekend
have been received from
THE AIR Training Corps was
throughout New Zealand and
born out of World War 2, when
Australia from ex-cadets.
the need to supply pre-trained
Among those attending will
people for the air force, both
be two early cadets from the
pilots and maintenance grew.
unit. James Sewell, who is 94
The war quickly taught that
and lives in Feilding, is believed
you could replace planes and
to be the first cadet signed
equipment,
otoring
but not trained
into the unit on its formation.
people. And so the ATC was first
Elgar Dickson, 90 and living in
formed in England (February 1
Christchurch, joined in early
1941) and grew rapidly worldwide.
collection of early photographs from the No 17 Air Training and distinguished careers in the
HISTORY RECALLED: Elgar and Shirley Dickson review a 1942. Both went on to serve long
This was followed in New Zealand
with recognition from War
Corps unit, accompanied by cadets Jed Buchanan and Caitlyn Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Cleall. ​
Registrations are still open for
Cabinet authority for the NZ The role of cadet units in New with leadership, outdoor, first all events for the weekend and
ATC on February 13, 1941. Zealand has changed since its aid activities.
registration forms are available
No 17 (City of Christchurch) initial wartime establishment. No 17 squadron has a proud on the squadron website.
Squadron
asty
is one of the oldest
Bites
Today is supported by the history, having been recognised The wing parade will be held
ATC units in New Zealand, New Zealand Defence Force as the most efficient ATC squadron
in New Zealand 10 times cadet base at Wigram and the
on the parade ground at the
officially formed in 1942. It is and, by legislation, is a partnership
between defence and the since 2000, and has numerous public are invited to this func-
also one of the largest, regularly
parading about 100 cadets, noncommissioned
officers and Flying is still the major focus from their air force parent body. Visitors should be seated by
community it operates in. awards for competitions and tion at no charge.
officers.
of the air cadet units together The unit is celebrating its 75 th
10.30am.
Explosives
found on
property
• By Andrew King
A WOMAN cleaning out a
deceased person’s estate in
Prebbleton found explosive
materials in a shed on Thursday.
The property on Blakes Rd was
owned by a registered explosives
technician who died recently.
While cleaning up the property
the woman came across “blasting
sticks”, police said.
The property is close to a subdivision,
but there was no danger to
the public.
“The material was well stored
and the person that found it
called police straight away,” he
said.
Defence force personnel
were called in and removed the
explosives.
“It’s not every day you find
things like this,” the police
spokesman said.
He said it was more common to
find old mortar shells rather than
well stored explosive material.
Police and defence force personnel
decide who is best placed
to remove the material.
oney