Come along to the Air Force Ceremonial Parade on Saturday 13 April 2024.
Redland City granted the age-old honour of Freedom of Entry to the City to No.95 Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force in 2014.
This year, No.95 Wing will exercise their right of Freedom of Entry to the City in a formal military street parade.
The ceremony, which dates to the Middle Ages, will include a formal parade of RAAF representatives from all nine of No.95 Wing’s squadrons, accompanied by a military band.
Military vehicles, information stalls and historical displays from 8.30am to 10am
Order of Ceremony
8.50am – Form up: The parade forms up at Cleveland Train Station, Harbourview Court, Cleveland.
9.00am – Master of Ceremonies – welcome
9.02am – Welcome to Country
9.06am – Mayor’s inspection of the parade: Parade Commander invites Mayor of Redland City to inspect the parade.
9.11am – Mayor of Redland City – welcome
9.14am – March on Colours: The Colours are uncased and marched onto parade, followed by the RAAF Ensign.
9.14am – MC presents the history of Freedom of Entry: The MC will provide details of the history of Freedom of Entry while the parade prepares.
9.24am – March commences: The parade advances in review order from Cleveland Train Station. The parade continues along Shore Street West toward ANZAC Centenary Park for ‘exercising the right of freedom of entry’, accompanied by the Royal Australian Navy Band Queensland.
9.26am – Challenge: The parade is stopped by Queensland Police Service and the Parade Warrant Officer marches forward and shows the scroll declaring Freedom of Entry to Redland City.
9.28am – March off, conclusion of parade: The parade will continue to march passed the dais where they will salute and march off along Shore Street West to ANZAC Centenary Park.
All Redlands Coast residents and visitors are invited to come and watch this historic event, which is also formal recognition from the RAAF of the important role our city played in the defence of Australia leading up to, and during, World War II.
The parade will go ahead rain or shine.
Air Force Ceremonial Parade Route
Changed traffic conditions
There will be changed traffic conditions in the area from 5am on event day, which are outlined below.
5.00am
- Parking bays along Shore Street West from Cleveland Train Station to Masthead Drive blocked
- Parking bays in Harbourview Court blocked
- Cleveland Train Station parking from Harbourview Court blocked.
8.00am
- Shore Street West (from Cleveland Train Station to Masthead Drive) closed to traffic until 10am approx. (Harbourview resident access will be available until 8.45am)
9.00am
- Rolling closures will occur along Shore Street West from Masthead Drive to Passage Street, Cleveland while formal parade marches to ANZAC Centenary Park. The parade will have a police escort. The rolling road closure will reopen at the conclusion of the march at approx. 10am.
10.00am
- Shore Street West from Cleveland Train Station to Masthead Drive reopens to traffic at approx. 10am.
Detours will be put in place to direct drivers away from these closures. Traffic controllers and Council staff will be present during the event. Other parking bays in the Cleveland CBD will remain unaffected.
Bus stops on Shore Street West will still operate with a detour. For public transport information, visit Translink’s website or call 13 12 30.
The History of the granting of Freedom of Entry to a City
The granting of “Freedom of Entry to a City” to a military unit has its origins in the early history of Europe.
To protect citizens from death or capture by enemy armies or bandits, key cities were placed behind fortifications and walls which, together with soldiers guarding them, were often the only form of protection for the population.
As such, the right of entry to a city by outside soldiers was a privilege rarely granted but when it was, much ceremony was associated to demonstrate the pride of the unit concerned, and the trust bestowed by the citizens in allowing them within their walls.
As times and society changed, city walls disappeared with the garrisons of citizens. However, for geographical, historical, and cultural reasons, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) units continue to have strong links to the cities where they have been stationed.
Today, a “Freedom” indicates the pride the local people have in their long associations with the unit involved and is reflected in the traditional format of the “Freedom Parade”.
The granting of a “Freedom” may be conferred by any civic or municipal authority to a unit or a RAAF Establishment. Having been granted a “Freedom”, the unit or Establishment involved will endeavour to regularly exercise their right of Freedom of Entry to the City, usually to coincide with a date of special significance to the city, the unit, or both.
Such dates might include the anniversary of the granting of the “Freedom”, Anzac and Remembrance Days, or the anniversary of the establishment of the unit or city.