This Saturday (30 November), Canberra will welcome members of HMAS Canberra (III) for the Freedom of Entry Parade. They will parade through the city streets in a grand procession of more than 200 people.
A Freedom of Entry, which dates back to medieval times, is an honour granted to military organisations, allowing them the privilege to march into a city ‘with swords drawn, drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed’.
In modern cities, the tradition is a ceremonial honour, usually bestowed upon a military unit with historic ties to the area.
This year’s Freedom of Entry will celebrate the 10th anniversary since the commissioning of HMAS Canberra (III) in 2014.
The event will include a parade from Veteran’s Park, down Northbourne Avenue, along London Circuit, Akuna Street and Bunda Street, concluding at Glebe Park.
The parade will start at 11am and take approximately 45 minutes. The HMAS Canberra crew will be accompanied by the Royal Australian Navy Band, cadets from Training Ship Canberra, the Shropshire Association and HMAS Canberra veterans, including Desmond (Des) Grieve Jones. At 101 years old, Mr Jones is the last surviving crew member of the original HMAS Canberra.
A key part of a Freedom of Entry ceremony is the ‘Challenge’ of entry. ACT Policing’s Deputy Chief Police Officer, Assistant Commissioner Doug Boudry APM, will issue the Challenge to the Commanding Officer of HMAS Canberra (III), Captain Brendan O’Hara.
The best vantage points will be along London Circuit, with the official Challenge taking place near Civic Square. There, the ACT Deputy Chief Police Officer will issue the Challenge and review the parade, before allowing entrance to the city.
Once the ceremony has finished, the contingent will ‘fall out’ at Glebe Park. The parade will be followed by a helicopter flyover.
Please be advised that there will be some disruptions to traffic and buses from 10am on the day. This includes road closures on Northbourne Avenue, London Circuit and Akuna Street for the parade. Roads will reopen once the parade reaches particular points along the route and where it is safe to do so. All roads will reopen by 12 midday at the latest. Light rail will not be impacted.
