21 June, 2016

Spectacular HMAS Adelaide Freedom of Entry parade this Friday

HMAS Adelaide (III), the second of two Canberra Class Amphibious Ships and the largest ever built for the Royal Australian Navy, will be exercising its right to Freedom of Entry to the City of Adelaide on Friday, 24 June 2016.

The Parade will start at 11am on Friday from the Torrens Parade Ground and march to the Adelaide Town Hall. Once there, a SAPOL senior member will issue a challenge then allow them to proceed past the Adelaide Town Hall where the City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese will take the salute. The march will then continue to Victoria Square / Tartanyangga.

Granting Freedom of Entry is a privilege extended rarely and is considered a great honour. Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the parade would be a spectacle not to be missed.

“This will be a rare opportunity to see Navy, Army and Air Force personnel together with the RAN Band South Australia when the 300-strong ship’s company of HMAS Adelaide exercise their Freedom of Entry to the City of Adelaide,” Martin said.

“Freedom of Entry dates back to medieval times when military forces were granted permission to enter a city with their swords drawn, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying. Without a Freedom of Entry agreement, which indicates peaceful intent, military forces were often turned away at the city gates.

“The parade will be a truly impressive sight so come along and take part in history by greeting the HMAS Adelaide’s company as they march through the city to claim their Freedom of Entry.”

At 230 metres long and more than 30 metres high, the 27,000 tonne warship HMAS Adelaide can land a force of more than 1,000 personnel by helicopter and water craft, along with weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores.

The ship is also well equipped for large scale humanitarian and disaster relief missions, featuring two operating theatres, an eight bed Critical Care Unit, resuscitation, pathology, radiology, x-ray, pharmacy and dental facilities.

Members of the public are encouraged to line the streets and cheer on the colourful HMAS Adelaide Freedom of Entry parade on Friday 24 June from 11am as it makes its way from the Torrens Parade Ground, along King William Street, through the Freedom of Entry challenge at Town Hall, before finishing in Victoria Square / Tartanyangga.

Further information about the history of exercising Freedom of Entry can be found at http://www.navy.gov.au/history/tradition/freedom-entry.

Members of the public also have the opportunity to visit HMAS Adelaide during a ship’s Open Day on Sunday, 26 June 2016. More information can be found at http://www.navy.gov.au/event/hmas-adelaide-open-day-adelaide.

Paula Stevens