The precision and spectacle of a rare Freedom of Entry parade and review will precede Saturday’s (September 21) highly anticipated 70th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers parade through Toowoomba’s CBD.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said residents and visitors would be treated to a double celebration with the Freedom of Entry parade starting in Herries Street (near Neil Street) from 2.15pm along the same route as the Grand Central Floral Parade, which is scheduled to start at 3pm.
Mayor Antonio said personnel from HMAS Toowoomba, 7th Signal Regiment (Cabarlah), 25th/49th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment and the Army Aviation Training Centre (Oakey) would be honoured at Saturday’s Freedom of Entry parade. (The Army Aviation Training Centre will not march as a unit, but it will provide the Parade Commander and Parade Regimental Sergeant Major. Helicopters from the centre will perform flyovers during the parade)
“The Freedom of Entry parade will add a rich sense of pageantry to the day before the colour and excitement of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers parade,” Mayor Antonio said.
“Toowoomba most recently hosted the company of HMAS Toowoomba in 2015 and I am pleased to welcome the ship’s officers, including Commander Mitchell Livingstone CSC, and a number of the company back to the city. The first Freedom of Entry parade was conducted in 2006.
