As he inspected the Guard at the Victorian Parliament House, Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, stopped to speak with numerous members.

Australia's Federation Guard had another trip to Melbourne - this time for the re-enactment of the opening of Australia's first Parliament.

A century ago, in Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building, the first Commonwealth Parliament was opened by HRH The Duke of Cornwall and York in the name and on behalf of His Majesty King Edward VII along with 1200 to 1500 onlookers. Thereafter, for the first 26 years of Federation, the Commonwealth Parliament sat in Melbourne until the opening on 9 May 1927, of the provisional Parliament House in Canberra.

Outside Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building, Australia's Federation Guard performed a General Salute for the Prime Minister Mr John Howard, and a Royal salute for the Governor-General Sir William Deane as they arrived with other Australian political leaders, dignitaries and community representatives on Wednesday 9 May.

The re-enactment lasted four hours with the first speech delivered by the Governor-General, Sir William Deane. The Prime Minister was next, then Opposition Leader Mr Kim Beazley. Other speakers included former Prime Ministers Mr Gough Whitlam and Mr Malcolm Fraser, Chairman of the Centenary of Federation Victoria and scientist Sir Gustav Nossal, former Governor-General and lawyer, Sir Ninian Stephen, and cricketer Mark Taylor. Betty Cuthbert, suffering multiple sclerosis, delivered an emotional speech with Nova Peris assisting. Representative of Australian Youth, fifteen-year-old Hayley Eves, wound up the ceremony.

During the speeches, the AFG waited outside the Royal Exhibition Building, viewing the proceedings on live telecast TV's. On completion, the AFG marched into position to formally send-off the departing political leaders, dignitaries and community representatives.

Victorian Parliament House

AFG had the afternoon off after performing the re-enactment of the opening of Australia's first Parliament. The next day, AFG was getting kitted up for another parade - at the Victorian Parliament House for the actual sitting of parliament.

AFG greeted the Prime Minister with a General Salute before he carried out an inspection of the Guard. During his inspection the Prime Minister spoke with numerous members of the Guard.

The Federal Ministers of Parliament went into the ornate but small chamber of the Victorian Parliament as they did 100 years ago. There was over 140 Ministers of Parliament attending the small Victorian Upper House. During the first 26 years of Federation, the Commonwealth Parliament sat in Melbourne until the of the provisional Parliament House in Canberra.

Story by LACW Lisa Rowley
Photographs by LAC Euan Grant