Townsville’s 1 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) will be granted Freedom of Entry to the city as part of the Wing’s 75th anniversary celebrations. Townsville City councillors voted unanimously today to approve the Wing’s Freedom of Entry exercise on Saturday, 27 September. The parade will commence at 9.30am, with a one hour ceremony scheduled to take place followed by a formal parade traversing the Jezzine Barracks Parade Ground to Cook and Isley Streets, and back. Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the symbolic gesture was all about acknowledging 1 Wing’s long-standing history of service across North Queensland.
“Freedom of Entry is not just a march through the city, it’s a show of trust in and gratitude for 1 Wing for their many decades of service across our region. Headquartered at RAAF Base Townsville, 1 Wing has a long-standing presence in the North and plays a significant role in youth development and community engagement through its cadet program. We are pleased to grant them this Freedom of Entry to the city to help celebrate their 75th anniversary, and also to highlight Townsville’s ongoing commitment to supporting Defence-related organisations and youth development initiatives.” she said.
Cr Greaney said the Freedom of Entry event would be “quite the spectacle”, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, guidon/colours flying and a band playing. The parade will also include a challenge by Queensland Police Service. She encouraged the public to head down to the Jezzine Barracks Parade Ground to witness and enjoy the occasion.
Freedom of Entry background:
Freedom of Entry, also known as “Freedom of the City”, is a right granted to a military unit by a local government authority – it allows the approved unit to march through the city streets and is the highest civic honour a council can give to a military unit. It is a long-standing tradition that can trace its history back to ancient Roman times. During the era of the Caesars, it was against the law for any of the armed legions of the Roman Army to enter the city of Rome due to the fear held by the Senate that some rogue General may invade and take control of the city. The City was protected by the personal bodyguard of Caesar, the ‘Praetorian Guard’, which numbered approximately 3,000 on duty at any given time. As a reward for faithful, heroic, and loyal service, regiments whose trustworthiness was beyond doubt might be granted “Freedom of the City”. As a sign of trust, the soldiers so honoured, would not have to disarm or break ranks before the city gates were opened to them. Introduced in Australia in 1958, the military Freedom of the City is an entirely ceremonial honour but remains the oldest and one of the highest civic honours bestowed by the elected citizens of a city, town, or regional area on a military unit within the Commonwealth of Nations.