Cadet Warrant Officer Will Colebrook never imagined his time in the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) would take him to the historic battlefields of France.
This year the Launceston cadet is spending Anzac Day overseas with Australia's Federation Guard, as the recipient of the Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble Memorial Pilgrimage award.
Named in memory of the late Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble, a former AAFC member remembered for her leadership and community spirit, the award honours her dream of one day visiting Anzac Cove.
"It was her big dream to get up to Anzac Cove on Anzac Day," Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook said.
"This award now gives other cadets the opportunity to visit various places with Australia's Federation Guard.
"To know I'm here because of Eleanore's dream and to represent her, my squadron and the AAFC, is something I'll always carry with me."
The trip has given Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook the chance to stand on the same soil where Australians fought during the First World War.
"To stand at Villers-Bretonneux is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.
"It's made the history feel very real and I feel incredibly proud to be part of this tradition."
Wing Commander (AAFC) Steve Lane said Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook had consistently demonstrated maturity and leadership well beyond his years.
"Will has always shown initiative, responsibility and genuine care for others. He's an outstanding representative for the cadet program and a very deserving recipient of this award," Wing Commander (AAFC) Lane said.
The Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble Memorial Pilgrimage is presented annually to one cadet nationally, with the winner travelling overseas to take part in Anzac Day commemorations.
The award recognises a cadet who displays outstanding leadership, service and commitment to the values of the AAFC.
The experience is designed to honour Eleanore's memory and foster the next generation of leaders within the cadets.
Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook said his time in the AAFC has shaped who he is today.
"The cadets have given me confidence, direction and so many incredible experiences," he said.
"Being part of something bigger than yourself - that's what this program is about."
As Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook spends Anzac Day in France, he carries more than just the AAFC crest.
"I carry Eleanore's memory, the stories of those who never came home and the pride of every cadet back in Australia," Cadet Warrant Officer Colebrook said.
"Being here has made me reflect deeply on those who came before us, their courage, their sacrifice and what it means to serve something bigger than yourself."
