Historical information

The Freedom of Entry to the City was an honour conferred by the Bendigo City Council to the Army Survey Regiment in 1970. 1980 was the third time the unit exercised its freedom 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. Led by the Regiment’s CO – LTCOL Bob Skitch, the unit marched down View St in the CBD, along Pall Mall and up Gaol Rd to the Queen Elizabeth II Oval. The ceremonial parade followed with a march past the guests of honour, Mayor of Bendigo Councillor Paul Tomkinson and military dignitaries. The parade concluded after formal inspections of the troops. The Regiment also exercised its Freedom of Entry with anniversary parades in 1977, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995. Some photos in this set were also printed on photo paper and catalogued under item 2021.25P. Photos of the march are catalogued under item 6491.19P. Photos of the Freedom of Entry parade rehearsal are catalogued under item 6479.38P.

Physical description

These black and white photographs of the Army Survey Regiment were taken on the occasion of the Freedom of Entry parade to the City of Bendigo in 1980. The photographs are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection.
.1) to .7) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Squadrons formed up at beginning of parade.
.8) & .9) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd Military District Band marches to their parade position.
.10) to .11) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Squadrons formed up parade with 3rd Military District Band playing music.
.12) to .14) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Officers formed up before taking posts. L to R: MAJ Peter Eddy, LT Brendon Jaego-Banks, CAPT Peter Searle - UK Exchange, unidentified, ADJT CAPT John Harrison, MAJ Sam Schwartz US Exchange, unidentified, MAJ Robin Blackburn, remainder unidentified.
.15) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Officers march to their posts. L to R: MAJ Peter Eddy, LT Brendon Jaego-Banks, CAPT Peter Searle - UK Exchange, unidentified, ADJT CAPT John Harrison, MAJ Sam Schwartz US Exchange, unidentified, MAJ Robin Blackburn, remainder unidentified.
.16 - Photo, black & white, 1980. Officers march to their posts.
.17 - Photo, black & white, 1980. Army Svy Regt awaits the arrival of the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.
.18 - Photo, black & white, 1980. CO LTCOL Bob Skitch escorts the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson and unidentified guest to the dais.
.19) to .25) – Army Svy Regt salutes the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.
.26) - Photo, black & white, 1980. CO LTCOL Bob Skitch escorts the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson to Headquarters Squadron to inspect its personnel.
.27) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron inspection. L to R: OC MAJ Paddy Strunks, RSM WO1 Aub Harvey, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, SPR Chris ‘Charlie’ Brown, unidentified, SGT John Grove (orderly room), unidentified, SPR Jeff Ruiz, WO2 Max Neil, unidentified, SGT Alan Brown, SGT Tim Allanson.
.28) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron inspection. L to R: OC MAJ Paddy Strunks, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified, SGT Rick Warren, unidentified, CPL Andy Wilson, WO2 Ted Burgess.
.29) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron inspection. L to R: OC MAJ Paddy Strunks, RSM WO1 Aub Harvey, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified, SGT Rick Warren, unidentified, CPL Andy Wilson, WO2 Ted Burgess.
.30) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Cartographic Squadron’s OC CAPT Bob Roche salutes the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. L to R: unidentified civilian, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch. In background L to R: SSGT Bob Scaddan, unidentified, CPL John Tempest, CAPT Simon Lemon, SSGT Colin Cuskelly, CPL Trevor Bottomley, SPR Bob Sheppard, WO2 Bob ‘Stretch’ Hayden, unidentified, CPL Ian McKenzie, FLTLT Ron Aitken, SPR Ian Fitzgerald, SPR Greg Else.
.31) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Cartographic Squadron’s OC CAPT Bob Roche salutes the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. L to R: unidentified civilian, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch. In background L to R: CPL Terry Danger, SPR Rod Skidmore, SSGT Bob Scaddan, unidentified, CPL John Tempest, CAPT Simon Lemon, SSGT Colin Cuskelly, CPL Trevor Bottomley, SPR Bob Sheppard, WO2 Bob ‘Stretch’ Hayden, unidentified, CPL Ian McKenzie, FLTLT Ron Aitken, SPR Ian Fitzgerald, SPR Greg Else.
.32) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Cartographic Squadron inspection. L to R: OC CAPT Bob Roche, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. In background L to R: SGT Stu Thaxter, unidentified, SSGT John Barrie, CPL Roger Pearson, SGT Doug Carswell, SPR Peter Main, WO2 Bob ‘Stretch’ Hayden.
.33) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Cartographic Squadron inspection. L to R: CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, OC CAPT Bob Roche, unidentified civilian, SGT Doug Carswell, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, WO2 Bob ‘Stretch’ Hayden.
.34) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Female Contigent inspection L to R: unidentified, SPR Gae (Amato) Robinson, SPR Scheryl Delforce, unidentified officer, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, CPL Marrianne (Van De Zee) De Groot, SPR Cathy Regan, SPR Ginny (Turner) Rowe, SPR Ilen Isaac, SPR Penny Knott, SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube, SPR Gina (Coore) Neilson, WO2 Pat Lumsden.
.35) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Female Contigent inspection L to R: SPR Scheryl Delforce, unidentified officer, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, SPR Ginny Turner, SPR Ilen Isaac, SPR Penny Knott, SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube, SPR Gina (Coore) Neilson, WO2 Pat Lumsden.
.36) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Female Contigent inspection L to R: SPR Scheryl Delforce, unidentified officer, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, SPR Cathy Regan, SPR Ginny Turner, SPR Ilen Isaac, SPR Penny Knott, SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube, SPR Gina (Coore) Neilson, WO2 Pat Lumsden.
.37) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Female Contigent inspection L to R: SPR Scheryl Delforce, unidentified officer, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, CPL Marrianne (Van De Zee) De Groot, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, SPR Ilen Isaac, SPR Penny Knott, SPR Santina (Argetto) Straube, SPR Gina (Coore) Neilson, WO2 Pat Lumsden.
.38) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron’s OC MAJ Peter Eddy salutes the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. L to R: unidentified civilian, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch. In background L to R: WO1 Jim ‘Triple J’ Jefferies, SPR Allan Choat, SPR Geoff Havelberg, CPL Alan Hawkins, CPL Dave Cook, LT Brendon Jaego-Banks, SGT Jim Beard, SSGT Russell ‘Rusty’ Williams, SGT Cam Chapman, SSGT Alan Derby, SSGT Greg Buckingham.
.39) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron inspection. L to R: back of CAPT Kym Weston, OC MAJ Peter Eddy, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified civilian.
.40) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron inspection. L to R: CAPT Peter Searle - UK Exchange, unidentified officer, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified, SSGT Alan Derby, LCPL Paul Hopes, SPR Peter Jones, SPR John Lane, WO2 Brian Meade, CPL Mick Hogan, CPL Greg Byers, SGT Cliff Webb.
.41) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron inspection. Centre rank L to R: SGT Bruce ‘Stretch’ Gordon, WO2 Chris Parkinson. Rear rank L to R: SPR Allan Choat, unidentified, SPR Jamie McRae, SSGT Russell ‘Rusty’ Williams, SSGT Greg Buckingham, CPL Greg Byers, CPL Roger Rees, SPR Gary Ames, SGT Greg Gilbert, SSGT Peter Warwick, WO2 Mick Dempster.
.42) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron inspection. Rear rank: SSGT Russell ‘Rusty’ Williams. Centre rank L to R: SPR Geoff Havelberg, CPL Peter Treble, SGT Jim Beard, SPR Peter Hardy, SPR Steve Hilton, SPR John Lane, CPL Mick Hogan, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, OC MAJ Peter Eddy.
.43) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron inspection. Centre rank L to R: SGT Bruce ‘Stretch’ Gordon, WO2 Chris Parkinson. Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, OC MAJ Peter Eddy. Rear rank L to R: SPR Allan Choat, unidentified, SPR Jamie McRae, SSGT Russell ‘Rusty’ Williams, SSGT Greg Buckingham, CPL Greg Byers, CPL Roger Rees, SPR Gary Ames, SGT Greg Gilbert, SSGT Peter Warwick, WO2 Mick Dempster.

.44) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron’s OC MAJ Robin Blackburn salutes the Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. L to R: unidentified civilian, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch. In background L to R: WO1 Manfred Panknin, SSGT Peter Coombes, CPL Frank Lenane, SPR Per Andersen, CPL John ‘Flash’ Anderson, unidentified, MAJ Sam Schwartz US Exchange, CPL Warren ‘Waldo’ Shirley, SPR Warren ‘Wah’ Hall, unidentified, SPR Neville Carr, SPR Paul Davis, SPR Paul Baker, CPL Mick ‘Buddha’ Ellis, SPR Martin Van De Maele, CPL Bill Jones, SPR Greg Rowe.
.45) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron inspection. L to R: RSM WO1 Aub Harvey, SPR Warren ‘Wah’ Hall, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, SPR Paul Davis, unidentified civilian, unidentified, OC MAJ Robin Blackburn, CPL Lance Strudwick, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, SPR Neville Carr, SPR Roy Hicks, SSGT Trevor Osborne, SPR Paul Baker, CAPT Stan Vote, CPL Bill Jones, SGT Greg Francis-Wright, SGT Ralph Chant, CPL Garry Drummond, WO2 Noel ‘Nesty’ Coulthard.
.46) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron inspection. Front rank L to R: SGT Greig Kidman, SPR Garry Hudson, SPR Gary Tremain, CPL Steve Egan, SPR Greg Rowe, CPL Mick ‘Buddha’ Ellis, remainder unidentified. Centre rank: SSGT Kevin Macquire. Inspection party L to R: CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, OC MAJ Robin Blackburn, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. Rear rank L to R: unidentified (x5), CPL Warren ‘Waldo’ Shirley, SPR Neville Carr, SPR Paul Baker, CPL Bill Jones, CPL Garry Drummond, SGT Graeme Jeffers, WO2 Tom Pattison.
.47) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron inspection. Front rank L to R: SSGT Trevor Osborne, SGT Greig Kidman, SPR Garry Hudson, SPR Gary Tremain, CPL Steve Egan, SPR Greg Rowe, CPL Mick ‘Buddha’ Ellis, remainder unidentified. Centre rank: SSGT Kevin Macquire, SGT Ralph Chant. Inspection party L to R: OC MAJ Robin Blackburn, RSM WO1 Aub Harvey, unidentified civilian, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson. Rear rank L to R: SPR Paul Baker, CPL Bill Jones, CPL Garry Drummond, SGT Graeme Jeffers, WO2 Tom Pattison.
48) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron inspection. Inspection party L to R: OC MAJ Robin Blackburn, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, unidentified civilian. Rear rank L to R: WO2 Tom Pattison, SGT Graeme Jeffers, CPL Garry Drummond, CPL Bill Jones, CPL SPR Neville Carr, Warren ‘Waldo’ Shirley, unidentified. Rear supernumery: WO1 John McCulloch.
49) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron inspection. Inspection party L to R: OC MAJ Robin Blackburn, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified civilian, RSM WO1 Aub Harvey. Rear rank L to R: WO2 Tom Pattison, SGT Graeme Jeffers, remainer unidentified.
50) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd Military District Band inspection. L to R: unidentified band master, CO LTCOL Bob Skitch, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.
51) - Photo, black & white, 1980. CO LTCOL Bob Skitch delivers his speech.
52) & .53) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Army Svy Regt squadrons stand at ease during CO LTCOL Bob Skitch’s speech.

Inscriptions & markings

There are no personnel identified.