A special community event celebrating the Redlands’ proud military connections takes on deeper significance for local former members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
When the RAAF’s 95 Wing marches into Cleveland on April 12 the men and women of the Redlands’ RAAF Association will be cheering proudly.
In a symbolic community ceremony, the crack Amberley-based operations security contingent will accept Freedom of Entry to the Redlands – the most honourable distinction a city can bestow on a contingent of the Australian Defence Forces.
You may also like these stories
But to RAAF Association secretary David Field and his members, the significance runs much deeper than simply celebrating the Redlands’ military past.
It’s about recognition of the city’s legions of service men and women from all defence forces … but particularly the air force.
“There are a lot of veterans living here (in the Redlands),’’ says David, whose members include men who have seen active service in World War II.
“We are not a military city but the military has been a big part of this city’s history. For that to be recognised is a great thing.’’
David, 68, who served with the RAAF around the world for more than 30 years, including in Vietnam, says much of the history still lives in the memories of ex-servicemen and women.
And granting “Freedom of Entry to the City”, he says, will provide the occasion for many of those stories to be told: something which takes on greater significant in the lead-up to this year’s centenary of the start of World War I.
“The RAAFA Redlands branch has a number of World War II members and some of those were aircrew who flew in active areas,’’ said David, a former warrant officer engineer.
“These fellows – they are in their 90s – are a great source of RAAF history and have many stories to tell.’’
He said the association’s members were “all keen and wanting to help’’ prepare for the April 12 event.
“And come the day they will all be there,’’ he said.
That the focus will be on the RAAF and its veterans, whose heroics were often in the background, is particularly satisfying for David.
He cites the Battle of Long Tan, one of the bloodiest of the Vietnam War, and the revered place the members of D-Company 6-RAR rightly hold in the nation’s history.
“But many don’t recognise that flying above it all, bringing in supplies, were the helicopter crews. They were there in the rain and lightning, with mad Vietnamese shooting at them … that was guts,’’ he says, adding that the Caribou transport planes he worked on regularly returned with bullet holes.
Association members are collating information about the Redlands’ military past for a presentation in conjunction with the April 12 event.
Division 6 Councillor Julie Talty, who championed the cause, says Freedom of Entry to the City will be a great asset for the Redlands and will make for an especially significant Anzac commemoration.
She says it will also be special for the young members of the local air force cadets.
“A greater partnership develops between the units granted Freedom of Entry and the city’s cadets, so I am confident that Redland cadets will benefit,’’ Cr Talty says.
During the ceremony, about 120 personnel from RAAF Base Amberley, supported by local defence force cadets and a band, will march into Cleveland where they will be challenged by the police officer in charge.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams, who will inspect the parade and present the official scroll offering Freedom of Entry to the City to Group Captain Peter Davis, says the celebration will be a wonderful way for Redlanders to show their high regard for the role of the Australian Defence Force.
“We want to make the parade and ceremony a big community event open to all Redlanders and I encourage residents to put April 12 in their diaries so they can show their support and cheer on the contingent along the route,’’ Cr Williams said.
“Come out and cheer on the marchers along the route and also give a thought to the contribution our former RAAF service men and women have made to this City.’’
Group Captain Davis, Officer Commanding the 95 Wing, has described the awarding of Freedom of Entry to the City as “an honour’’.
“We feel privileged to be welcomed by the people of Redland City,” he said.
“Over our 93 years of Air Force history, a number of Air Force members have come from the Redland community.
“We are very much looking forward to being part of such an important civil-military ceremony that reinforces the pride the local community have in their airmen and airwomen”.
