The 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), Kogarah will be given Freedom of Entry to the City in a special ceremony next year.
Bayside Council has unanimously endorsed the request by the regiment for the council to bestow ‘Freedom of Entry to the City’ to acknowledge the centenary of the end of WWI.
Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski outlined the request in a Mayoral Minute at the April 11 meeting of the council.
At a recent meeting, Bayside Council mayor Bill Saravinovski and general manager Meredith Wallace were asked to consider an opportunity to bestow Freedom of Entry to the City to Army Corps 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) Kogarah.
Freedom of Entry to the City can be bestowed by the resolution of the council.
Cr Saravinovski noted the significant planning involved to stage such an event which would be held next year.
This would include a marching out parade with the Army Corps 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) to enter Bayside local government area.
“Between 2014 and 2018 Australia is commemorating the Centenary of Anzac, marking 100 years since our nation's involvement in the First World War,” Cr Saravinovski said.
“During this period, it is timely, that we consider bestowing ‘Freedom of Entry to the City’ to Army Corps 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), Kogarah to proudly carry the keys to our local government area.
“This tradition dating back to medieval times, in Continental Europe and the British Isles, where fortress walls afforded cities protection from incursions by outlaw bands and attacks by feudal lords.
“The citizens of those walled cities wisely refused to allow entry to armed groups, including troops, unless they were absolutely sure that those arms would not be used against them.
“Hence the granting of permission to a formed body of armed men to enter a city became the mark of trust and confidence in which that body was held by its citizens.
“The proposed event and official ceremony is being requested well in advance and would take place in 2019, whereby granting Freedom of Entry to Army Corps 9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), Kogarah will be centred on a march to a staging point, where it awaits the arrival of the official party of the mayor.”
The Regiment will be presented with an ornate scroll granting the Freedom of Entry which will be read out and presented by the mayor to the Commanding Officer of the unit.
The ceremony will be followed by a procession by the Regiment with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating and the band playing to the Town Hall where the mayor takes the salute.
9 Regiment RAA takes its lineage from the 9th Australian Field Artillery (AFA) Brigade (part of the 3rd Australian Division in the First World War) and 2/9th Field Regiment RAA (part of the 8th Australian Division in the Second World War).
