Cadets dedication awarded

The achievements of Mangawhai St John youth cadets were recognised at a prize giving at the St John Ambulance station on July 16, with one cadet receiving two prestigious awards.

St John Bream Bay Area Committee chair Nicholas Roberts presented Bella Tinsel with her 1000 hours community service shield, as well as the highest achievement a youth cadet can earn – a Grand Prior stage one shield. Bella also took out the 2025 Northern Region Deputy Regional Cadet award.

Of the recipients on the night were James Donaldson who received three Hoiho badges for caring, drill and St John, and Maisy Freeman who was presented with her blue level drill badge.

Mangawhai Youth Cadets was founded by Northern Region youth manager, Anastasia Tinsel in 2016. Also the proud mum of Bella, she says her daughter has taken every available opportunity since she started as a six-year-old at the Wellsford youth cadet division in 2015.  

“Because of her work and dedication, she has been able to compete nationally three years in a row, has completed her Super Penguin award and her Emerald and Sapphire shields, and now has her Grand Prior award,” she says.

“Maisy and James have started down that pathway by putting in many hours to achieve the badges they earned this week and have taken the skills taught and put them to good use.”

Mangawhai Youth Cadets have consistently been high-achievers, coming away from competitions with a range of awards including winning the coveted Spirit of St John Trophy in 2018 for the values of friendliness, being respectful, hard-working, positive and enthusiastic, and winning Division of the Year in Northland for two years running.