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IN
TIME: The colour party march the Australian Navy Ensign
to the front of the parade.
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Photo:
LSPH Phillip ‘Rex’
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STEP
ASIDE: HMAS Canberra’s Coxswain CPO Gary Wright presents
the scroll to the ACT Chief of Police, Audrey Fagan, proclaiming
HMAS Canberra’s right to Freedom of Entry to Canberra.
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By
Sue Caddaye
On a freezing Canberra morning 150 personnel from HMAS Canberra
formed up and got ready to say goodbye to their ship’s namesake
city.
At 10am on the dot, led by their commanding officer, CMDR Ray
Leggatt, they marched onto London Circuit accompanied by the
Royal Australian Naval Band and cadets from TS Canberra to exercise
their rite to freedom of entry to Canberra.
The march was momentarily stopped however as ACT Chief Police
Officer, Audrey Fagan, challenged the rite of the personnel
to march with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, banners flying and
drums beating.
This was however just a matter of custom in the centuries old
tradition and upon production of HMAS Canberra’s Freedom of
Entry scroll she stepped aside and let the march continue. “The
ship’s company was very happy to be back in Canberra,” CMDR
Ray Leggatt said. “It’s always a special occasion for a ship’s
company to conduct the Freedom of Entry and even more so this
time as we said a final farewell to Canberra.”
ACT’s Chief Minister, Mr John Stanhope, praised the ship’s company
for the wonderful work they had done during the ships 24 years
of service and wished them well for their return journey to
their home port in Fleet Base West. He also expressed the cities
desire to see another HMAS Canberra in the future saying that
with such a proud history it would be an honour and privilege
to continue the tradition.
Then, with Mr Stanhope and the Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Shalders,
taking the salute in front of onlooking Canberra residents,
a Seahawk and two Squirrel helicopters flew overhead, representing
the two types of aircraft used during Canberra’s service, ship’s
company marched off for the final time.
This was the fifth time that the ship’s crew has exercised their
right to Freedom of Entry in the capital. HMAS Canberra is scheduled
to decommission in November in Western Australia after serving
the country for the last 24 years.
During this period, the ship has conducted two deployments to
the Persian Gulf, in 1992 for Operation Damask and more recently
in 2002.
