Photograph - Army Survey Regiment Freedom of Entry March, Bendigo CBD, 1980

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 6021.25P. Photos of the parade are catalogued under item 6490.53P. Photos of the Freedom of Entry parade rehearsal are catalogued under item 6479.38P.

Physical description

This set of 19 black and white photographs of the Army Survey Regiment were taken on the occasion of the Freedom of Entry to the City of Bendigo March 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) - Photo, black & white, 1980. L to R: MAJ Don Swiney MBE, LTCOL Bob Skitch, WO1 Aub Harvey, ADJT CAPT John Harrison, photographer in foreground – SGT Garran Hill
.2) to .4) - Photo, black & white, 1980. L to R: MAJ Don Swiney MBE, LTCOL Bob Skitch, WO1 Aub Harvey, ADJT CAPT John Harrison.
.5) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron marches left wheels into Pall Mall followed by 3rd MD Band. L to R: WO2 Ted Burgess, WO1 Dave Thomson, WO2 George Graham, CPL Andy Wilson, unidentified (x2), SPR Jeff Ruiz, unidentified, SGT Rick Warren, remainder unidentified.
.6) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron marches down Pall Mall followed by 3rd MD Band. Right file L to R: WO1 Alex Cairney, WO2 Ted Burgess, CPL Andy Wilson, unidentified, SGT Rick Warren, remainder unidentified. Centre file L to R: unidentified (x2), SGT Bruce Hammond, CPL Phil McGuire.
.7) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd MD Band marches down Pall Mall.
.8) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Dignitaries on dais next to Soldiers Institute Memorial Hall. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, unidentified aide de camp, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, CAPT Don Maskew.
.9) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Lithographic Squadron marches down Pall Mall towards the dais. L to R: CPL Josh Degroot, CPL Rhys De Laine, unidentified, SPR Per Andersen – right marker, MAJ Sam Schwartz US Exchange, CAPT Stan Vote, OC MAJ Robin Blackburn.
.10) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Headquarters Squadron salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: CPL Cliff Webb, unidentified officer, SGT Bob Croxton, unidentified, SGT Syd Davis, CAPT Bob Cooper.
.11) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd MD Band marches down Pall Mall towards the dais.
.12) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd MD Band marches past the dais. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, unidentified aide de camp, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, CAPT Don Maskew, unidentified officer.
.13) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd MD Band salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: unidentified aide de camp, Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, CAPT Don Maskew, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, unidentified officer.
.14) - Photo, black & white, 1980. 3rd MD Band salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson, CAPT Don Maskew.
.15) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Squadrons march past the dais.
.16) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Female Contingent salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, CAPT Don Maskew, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.
.17) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Cartographic Squadron led by CAPT Bob Roche salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, CAPT Don Maskew, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.
.18) & .19) - Photo, black & white, 1980. Air Survey Squadron salutes on the march past the dais. L to R: Colonel Commandant COL J.L. Stedman (Retd), Commander 3MD BRIG Geoffrey Cohen AM, CAPT Don Maskew, Brigadier Lawrence Fitzgerald OBE (Retd), Mayor – Councillor Paul Tomkinson.

Inscriptions & markings

There are no personnel identified.

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