Historical information

The Freedom of Entry to the City was an honour conferred by the Bendigo City Council to the AHQ Survey Regiment on the 20th of April 1970. The unit was granted for the first time the privilege of marching into the city with swords drawn, bayonets fixed and drums beating. The honour is usually bestowed upon local regiments, in recognition of their dedicated service, and it is common for military units to periodically exercise their freedom by arranging a parade through the city. The Freedom of Entry Parade occurred on the 14th of June 1970 led by the Regiment’s CO – LTCOL Bill Sprenger MID, MBE; the unit marched up View St in the CBD to the Queen Elizabeth II Oval. The ceremonial parade followed with a march past the guests of honour, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey and military dignitaries. The parade concluded after formal inspections of the troops. A ceremonial scroll was presented to the Bendigo City Council to the AHQ Survey Regiment citing the occasion and was proudly displayed in the entry foyer to Fortuna Villa up to October 2008. The Regiment continued to exercise its Freedom of Entry with anniversary parades in 1977, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995. Refer to item 6020.8P for another set of photos of this event scanned from photographic prints.

Physical description

This set of 39 colour photographs were taken on the occasion of the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Survey Regiment’s Freedom of Entry parade to the City of Bendigo on the 14th of June 1970. The photographs are on 35mm negative film. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographic negatives were scanned at 96 dpi.
.1) to .2) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment marches to Queen Elizabeth Oval entry, led by CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, unidentified 2IC and RSM WO1 John Hogan.
.3) to .4) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment at entry to Queen Elizabeth Oval, exercising its right of entry to City of Bendigo.
.5) to .6) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment marches down View St in the City of Bendigo.
.7) to .11) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment marches up View St in the City of Bendigo.
.12) to .13) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment enters Queen Elizabeth Oval, led by CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, unidentified 2IC and RSM WO1 John Hogan.
.14) - Photo, colour, 1970. One of AHQ Survey Regiment’s squadrons enters Queen Elizabeth Oval.
.15) to .19) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment forms up on Queen Elizabeth Oval awaiting arrival of dignitaries.
.20) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment inspected by dignitaries. L to R: Director of the Survey Corps COL Frank Buckland OBE, MID; Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General, CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey, unidentified personnel.
.21) to .23) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment inspected by dignitaries. Director of the Survey Corps COL Frank Buckland OBE, MID; Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General, CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey. WRAAC personnel centre rank - PTE Desi Asaris, rear rank L to R: unidentified, PTE Pat Lumsden, PTE Heather (Turnbull) Slater, SGT Irene (Rankins) Saunders.
.24) to .27) - Photo, colour, 1970. Band inspected by dignitaries. Director of the Survey Corps COL Frank Buckland OBE, MID; Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General, CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey.
.28) to .30) - Dignitaries return to dias. Director of the Survey Corps COL Frank Buckland OBE, MID; Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General, CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey.Director of the Survey Corps COL Frank Buckland OBE, MID; Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General, CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey.
.31) - Photo, colour, 1970. Unidentified Padre’s Freedom of Entry parade address.
.32) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment during the unidentified Padre’s Freedom of Entry parade address.
.33) to .35) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment led by CO LTCOL Lionel Sprenger MBE, MID, unidentified 2IC and RSM WO1 John Hogan march past the dais to salute the parade dignitaries.
.36) - Photo, colour, 1970. Parade dignitaries at the dais: unidentified councillor, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Clark Jeffrey. Colonel Commandant BRIG Don Macdonald AM, MID; unidentified General.
.37) to .38) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment squadrons march past the dais to salute the parade dignitaries.
.39) - Photo, colour, 1970. AHQ Survey Regiment WRAAC personnel march past the dais to salute the parade dignitaries. L to R: unidentified (x2), CPL Beryl Parkinson, unidentified (x2), PTE Robyn (Marsh) Kemsley, unidentified, WO2 Marj Knight, PTE Desi Asaris, PTE Heather (Turnbull) Slater, SGT Irene (Rankins) Saunders.

Inscriptions & markings

.1P to .3P – no annotations