Calrossy student Nicola Jones and Farrer student Zachary Amos were among more than 20 young appointees who will now begin a new step in their lives as trainees in the Australian Defence Force.

The farewell ceremony, held at Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, celebrated the achievement of these students before they boarded a bus heading for Canberra yesterday afternoon.

Nicola’s grandfather Neville Jones said Nicola has dreamed of joining the Royal Australian Air Force for four years.

“We’re all going to miss her but it’s a thing she has wanted to do for a long time. I imagine it’s going to be full on trying to balance the university studies and the air training.”