With swords drawn and drums beating, 500 RAAF Base Wagga personnel marched in perfect formation as a Freedom of Entry parade took to the streets of Wagga Wagga, celebrating 85 years of an unbreakable bond between base and city.

The ceremonial parade showcased the enduring history shared by the Air Force base and the Riverina community, with themes of past, present and future woven throughout the event.

A symbolic flypast captured this connection, with a World War 2-era Wirraway from 100 Squadron leading a current Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft from Central Flying School across the sky, a powerful reminder of the base’s continuous role in training generations of Australian aviators.

During World War 2, the Air Force expanded from just 4000 personnel in 1939 to more than 180,000 by 1945, with Wagga Wagga and the Riverina playing a crucial role through the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Commander Air Force Training Group Air Commodore David Strong reflected on the remarkable growth that forged the relationship between base and city. 

“The Freedom of Entry is the highest honour a city can bestow upon a military unit,” Air Commodore Strong said, thanking the community for its unwavering support over eight-and-a-half decades.

City of Wagga Wagga Mayor Councillor Dallas Tout noted the Freedom of Entry had only been granted four times to military units in Wagga Wagga's history. The RAAF Base – then named RAAF Station Forest Hill – first received this honour in 1961 for the base’s 21st anniversary and last exercised it in 2015.

“We are a military city here in Wagga Wagga, and the relationships we have with each of the services are based on decades of trust, mutual respect and recognition,” Councillor Tout said.

'The Freedom of Entry is the highest honour a city can bestow upon a military unit.'

Squadron Leader Lisa Casey, Commanding Officer of 31 Squadron, acknowledged the importance of the city’s military history and praised the community spirit she has experienced since arriving this year.

“The sense of community in Wagga is like nothing else I’ve seen. I felt immediately welcome both in uniform and in my civilian clothes going down the street,” she said.

Along with that community spirit, Squadron Leader Casey flagged a shared spirit of challenge and pride between the RAAF base and Kapooka Barracks, reinforcing the military heart of the city.

The ceremony held special significance for hometown personnel like Sergeant Jaielin Miles, Indigenous Liaison Officer at RAAF Base Wagga, who described seeing children’s faces light up during the parade.

“It just lets them know this is a true option for them,” he said, reflecting on how similar parades inspired his own decision to join Defence.

Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Mary Atkinson offered a Welcome to Country, introducing the concept of Yindyamarra, a Wiradjuri word meaning respect for yourself, others and the environment. Her words resonated deeply with attendees, connecting Aboriginal cultural values with military service and tradition.

Air Commodore Strong acknowledged the service of Warrant Officer Len Waters, the first Indigenous RAAF pilot and the only one to serve as a fighter pilot during World War 2, who trained in a Wirraway over the Riverina before flying 95 operational missions in the Pacific.

Looking forward, Air Commodore Strong highlighted the base’s bright future, with a redevelopment project valued at hundreds of millions of dollars set to bring increased economic prosperity and resilience to the region.

As the ceremony concluded at the Eternal Flame, the message was clear: the partnership between RAAF Base Wagga and the city remains as strong as ever. Then, now and always.