Eighteen-year-old Lily Wilson has been selected as Hato Hone St John’s National Cadet for 2025.

Lily was one of six St John Youth who were shortlisted for the role and during the school holidays she travelled to Christchurch for a presentation and interview.

Being selected was “pretty exciting”, Lily told the Wānaka App.

She said the role will involve ”being the voice of the young people in our youth programme across New Zealand”.

“I will be heading to a variety of events to represent youth and meet youth at the same time,” she said.

St John Wānaka cadet and Wānaka Primary School student Riley Syben competing at the St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions.

Lily is currently the South Island Cadet for 2024. She was the first person from the Wānaka branch to receive the honour, and she is the first person from Wānaka to be selected as the national cadet.

She is in her final year of high school this year and next year she will fit in her national cadet duties around studying nursing at the University of Otago.

Lily has been involved with St John since she was six-years-old; she said her experiences in St John have inspired her to study nursing. 

She sees herself continuing to be involved with St John.

Wānaka cadets with their awards following the St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions.

Lily’s selection as national cadet was one of a number of achievements by Wānaka’s St John Youth over the school holidays.

A six-person contingent attended St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions (showing their skills in areas like first aid trauma, drill and healthcare) and returned with great results.

Lily, as well as other Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College students Daisy Speak, Tenki Watanabe, Caleb Cotton-Everitt and Blake Cotton-Everitt, and Wānaka Primary School student Riley Syben, took part.

Daisy and Riley placed in nearly every event and took out second overall; Tenki and Caleb competed against each other, with Tenki achieving third overall and Caleb second; and Blake and Lily took out first place in their competition.

Riley was also awarded the novice award, given to a cadet competing for the first time who amplifies the values of St John.  

Learn more about St John youth programmes here.

PHOTOS: Supplied