It is an exciting weekend for the crew of HMAS Wollongong who are being granted Freedom of Entry to the city the ship is named after on Sunday.
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Apart from Lieutenant Commander Scott Wilson most on board the Armidale Class Patrol Boat have never been part of such a ceremony before. It is also a rare event for the people of Wollongong being only the second time a Freedom of Entry march has occurred.
“This doesn’t happen very often. For some people it is a once in a lifetime experience in their military careers,” Lieutenant Commander Wilson said.
The Freedom of Entry ceremony starts in MacCabe Park on Sunday at 10.45am before proceeding up Kembla Street where the crew will be challenged before entering Crown Street Mall and is one of two official ceremonies this weekend. The first is a Ceremonial Sunset the public is invited to at Figtree RSL Bowling Club at 6.30pm on Saturday. It will involve a volley of shots as well as simulated cannon fire. “It is a ceremony that is done in most Navy’s around the world. It will be accompanied to some band music. It is really exciting and if you haven’t seen it before come down there and watch”.
Lieutenant Commander Wilson said it was the patrol boat’s second visit to Wollongong. The last time being her maiden voyage a decade ago. HMAS Wollongong seldom travels this far south. Home base for most its operations is Cairns. “We are the third Royal Australian Navy ship to carry the proud city’s name of Wollongong. The actual Freedom of Entry is a show of trust by that city in that military unit to give it the honour to be able to actually parade through that town. So for us it is a truly humbling experience”.
“I have been involved in a couple before and they were great occasions. But being the commanding officer of a unit that is actually doing one is a very proud moment for me. It is the second time this unit has had a chance to visit Wollongong and it is a little ironic that we are back here to do a Freedom of Entry march on the centenary of our commissioning into the Royal Australian Navy.”
He said it was also wonderful to meet the people of Wollongong and thanked Wollongong City Council and the RSL for their wonderful support. He said he was also looking forward to marching with the Australian Navy Cadets from TS Albatross who were also celebrating an important anniversary. “It is not often military units will do a Freedom of Entry march with the Navy cadets. However we thought it would be important to have that community tied with the ship. It is important to remember that they are the next generation of Australians who could potentially serve.”
Leading Seaman Jason Fitzsimmons said he had never been involved in a Freedom of Entry before and was really looking forward to it. “I am pretty excited for this and looking forward to people coming out to see us march through the city”.
HMAS Wollongong Freedom of Entry to the city details:
- The ceremony will take place in the City Centre starting in MacCabe Park and ending in the Crown Street Mall.
- At 10.45am, council representatives will present the crew of HMAS Wollongong with a scroll in MacCabe Park, granting them entry to the City.
- The crew, along with the Royal Australian Navy Cadets, Navy band and members of the NSW Mounted Police Unit, will then march up Church Street at approximately 11:15am.
- Once they reach Crown Street, Superintendent Stephen Hegarty will challenge the parade and they will show the scroll to gain entry into the City.
- The march will then make its way through the mall, before stopping outside Wesley Church on the Mall where Council and Commander Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving, Hydrographic, Meteorological and Patrol Force Captain Warren Bairstow will take the salute from the parade.
- Both Stewart Street and Church Street will be closed for the march.
- For those who wish to attend the event, the best spots to see all the action is in MacCabe Park, and the centre of the Crown Street Mall.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
