|
Hydrographers
welcomed to the 'Gong'
 |
|
Accompanied
by CAPTs Rod Nairn and Bruce Kafer, the Mayor of Wollongong,
Councillor Alex Darling inspects the RAN’s hydrograpers
during their Freedom of Entry parade through the streets
of the coastal city.
|
|
|
|
Councillor Darling presents the Freedom of Entry scroll
to WO Howlett during the celebrations.
|
 |
| CAPT
Rod Nairn leads the hydrographers through the streets of Wollongong. |
The
locals halted their larger-than-life kerbside chess game, a crowd
of 500 applauded wildly and the beating of drums sent the seagulls
high into the air.
This was the scene in The Mall at Wollongong the other day when
the Royal Australian Navy came to town.
For the first time in its 82 year history the RAN’s Wollongong-based
Hydrographic Service had been granted the Freedom of Entry to the
City.
The Wollongong City Council and the local RSL club had made it happen.
On September 28, 40 uniformed members of the Service accompanied
by the RAN Band-Sydney marched from MacCabe Park to The Mall.
Earlier a combo from the band had done a recital for the morning
shopping crowd from a stage backdropped by large charts prepared
by the hydrographers.
Wollongong Mayor, Councillor Alex Darling, welcomed the sailors
to the city and formally presented to WO Kevin Howlett the scroll
allowing the Hydrographic Service to march with swords drawn, flags
flying and drums beating.
Responding, the commanding officer and Hydrographer, CAPT Bruce
Kafer said: “thank you for this wonderful mark of respect”.
Watching was the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie.
CAPT Kafer then left the stage, drew his sword and took up the lead
position ahead of his men and women.
Behind him was WO Howlett escorted by two Steyr-armed sailors, one
his wife LS Kathryn Howlett the other, LS Kate Grarock.
With applause from The Mall crowd and from diners lunching on a
verandah balcony above, CAPT Kafer called “quick march”
and the smartly turned out contingent stepped off.
Three hundred metres further on Police Superintendent John Trott
halted the marchers by standing in the roadway and calling “who
goes there?”
WO Howlett stepped forward, removed the freshly printed scroll from
its leather tube and read its contents to the policeman.
“Your right of passage is acknowledged,” Supt Trott declared,
stepping aside and allowing the marchers to continue.
Outside the council’s administration centre Mayor Darling and
the Chief of Navy waited to receive the salute of the officers and
sailors.
The activity ended with a council reception attended by the marchers,
their families, RSL members, police and invited guests including
the commanding officers of HMAS Penguin CMDR John Shevlin and HMAS
Albatross, CAPT Tim Barrett.
|
