Historical information

The “Axe Handle” awards originated in 1988, when WO2 Zachary Reark (CSM B Coy and son of famed Old Mentonian, Jim Reark) found an old axe handle in the bush at the end of the 1988 annual Cadet camp. This he proudly marched out of camp with, under arm, in the manner of one bearing a pace stick. This idea seemed to catch on with the then CO, LTCOL Tony Drinan who decided that each CSM would be issued with one of these as a “perpetual trophy” marking his promotion to the rank of WO2 and appointment as a CSM. The name of the recipient was duly engraved on a plate affixed to the handle. The Archive Centre holds about 12 such axes as well as this original.