Members of the RAAF's Central Band were given the honour of unveiling the Federation Pillars as part of the Centenary of Federation Celebrations.

Defence turned on a dazzling display of operational skills and ceremonial finery in support of Centenary of Federation celebrations in Melbourne in May.

In a multi-faceted display titled a Defence Force Salute to Federation, public awareness of Defence capabilities was brought to a high level by widely-promoted and very visible activity.

The display at a number of venues included operational RAAF aircraft, visiting RAN frigates, the Army's Red Berets, Air Force, Navy and Army bands, and Australia's Federation Guard.

Defence's involvement commemorated its integral role in the federation of Australia and its continuing importance in protecting Australia.

The highlight was on 6 May, when Defence visibility was at its highest. Air Force, Navy and Army bands took part in Our Nation on Parade, said to be Melbourne's largest-ever procession, with an estimated 300,000 spectators.

At Station Pier in brilliant autumn sunshine HMA Ships Warramunga, Adelaide and Darwin played host to thousands of interested Victorians during the ships' open day. Crowd estimates for the pier and surrounding areas ranged as high as 15,000.

Overhead, the RAAF demonstrated its skills to the Port Melbourne crowds and the much wider audience around Port Phillip Bay.

The Prime Minister Mr John Howard inspects the Federation Guard before the sitting of Federal Parliament in the Victorian Parliament building. (Photograph by Denis Hersey.)

Starting with the Roulettes providing their full high show, the air component rolled on through C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, two F/A-18 Hornet fighters and an F-111 strike aircraft.

After their displays, each aircraft or flight flew along Melbourne's bayside suburbs as far as the Mornington Peninsula then across to Geelong and along the western side of Port Phillip Bay before returning to their bases.

Just as the ships' open day was designed to familiarise the Victorian public with Defence's modern equipment and people, the bayside circuit was designed to enable local communities to receive a rare glimpse of some of Australia's front line aircraft.

HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Darwin also fulfilled a community familiarisation role two days before, when they took 120 year 11 and 12 students to sea for a day. The students were all competitors in the 2000 Rock Eisteddfod.

Navy's birdies played their part in the Port Phillip Bay exercise with a Seahawk from No. 816 Squadron providing a winch rescue display.

Recruiters manning a van at Station Pier estimated that they received 3000-4000 inquiries.

Closer to the centre of town, 74,680 people saw Collingwood and Carlton football clubs clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to commemorate their Federation match in 1901.

Defence maintained its high profile at that venue, starting with a Roulettes display followed by pinpoint accuracy from the Red Berets parachuting in. As the team's Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Nicolic said: 'It's great to be in the Army, and it's our 100th birthday'.

A fly-past by P3C Orion and C-130 aircraft further stimulated the crowd's interest in Defence, followed by a half-time Hornet handling display and later a formation fly-past by an F-111 strike aircraft and two Hornets.

Escorted by the Federation Guard Commander Major Paul Randall, the Governer-General Sir William Deane inspects the Federation Guard in front of the exhibition building. (Photograph by Denis Hersey.)

On 9 May Australia's Federation Guard, commanded by Major Paul Randall, provided ceremonial support at the Melbourne Exhibition Building where the opening of Australia's first Parliament was recreated, and the following day at the Victorian State Parliament building, the original home of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Some 7000 Australians from all walks of life joined the commemoration in the Exhibition Building. A century ago 12,000 to 15,000 people packed the same building to watch the Duke of Cornwall and York open the new nation's Parliament.

The speakers this time included the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, the Opposition Leader, Mr Kim Beazley, and the Governor-General, Sir William Deane.

The RAAF Central Band played inside the Exhibition Building, the Australian Army Band Melbourne in the gardens outside, while the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne provided musical support for Australia's Federation Guard.

Members of the RAAF Central Band also had the honour of unveiling the Federation Pillars as Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, announced it. The Federation Pillars represent the Friends of Federation - prominent Victorian individuals, families and institutions who, through their philanthropy and public spirit, have enabled the Centenary of Federation Celebrations in 2001 to reach and engage all Victorians.

The 10 May commemorative sitting of Federal Parliament in the Victorian State Parliament building in Spring Street started after Australia's Federation Guard marched on and was inspected by the Prime Minister.

Defence's involvement in commemorative activities in the State where Federation began ended on Saturday 12 May at Flemington Racecourse.

There, the Red Berets parachuted onto the track, the RAAF Central Band played, and a static display of Army equipment completed the offering.

The schedule included a 105mm L119 gun from 53 Independent Training Battery, School of Artillery, Puckapunyal, an APC from 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse, and an explosive ordnance disposal display from the Senior Ammunition Technical Officer, Southern Region.

In all, Defence's participation in Federation activities in Melbourne provided the public with one of the largest tri-Service displays for many years.

The last word went to a radio talkback caller providing feedback after the Station Pier and bayside displays. He said he and his family established a viewing position on Williamstown Beach and rated the show 'terrific, we really enjoyed the skills'.

Story by Peter Johnson
Photograph by Andrew Hobbs, supplied by Peter Jones Special Events