A Year 9 student, Nikasio Nadavo, has been named Best Male Cadet at Lelean Memorial School’s cadet passing-out parade, held at Albert Park in Suva yesterday. The Tailevu student said the preparations were tough, especially since the event was returning after a 13-year break.
“It was hard because it was my first time doing something like this,” Nadavo said. “We also struggled to follow instructions at first, but in the end, we pulled through.” About 1,400 students took part in the parade.
The parade at Lelean Memorial comes amid a string of cadet passouts at Fiji’s schools, including Natabua High School, where head boy Josefata Naisili led a parade of 1,276 students after eight weeks of preparation. The Natabua event echoed a common pattern across schools: cadets train weekly for the first eight weeks, then intensify in the final weeks to ensure a polished passing-out ceremony. Leaders like Naisili have urged juniors to seize every opportunity, noting that such experiences build teamwork, discipline, and responsibility.
Additional notes:
– Lelean’s 1,400-participant parade highlights the scale of the event and the revival of a long hiatus in its cadet program, similar to other schools that have hosted large cadet passouts in recent years.
– The recurring emphasis across schools on structured training—weekly practices, intensified final weeks, and a barrack-week focus—underscores the value placed on discipline, teamwork, and leadership development in Fiji’s cadet programs.
– Nadavo’s achievement provides a positive focal point for younger students and may inspire ongoing participation in school cadet activities, contributing to a renewed sense of pride in Lelean Memorial’s traditions.
Summary: Nadavo’s success as Best Male Cadet showcases the strength of Lelean Memorial’s cadet program and mirrors a broader revival of school cadet traditions across Fiji, underscoring resilience, discipline, and student leadership.
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