RAAF STRAND PARADE

TOWNSVILLE is expected to open up to the Royal Australian Air Force with a Freedom of Entry parade next month.

Thousands of people are expected to watch Defence personnel march down The Strand as part of the RAAF 100th celebration and the 50th anniversary of its first entry to the city.

The parade will work in with the Night Markets on The Strand on October 1.

Earlier this year, the crew from the HMAS Paluma was granted entry to the town of Paluma ahead of the ship being decommissioned.

RAAF Base Townsville was given formal approval to enter the city in December 2020.

The Townsville police will help with a rolling road closure along The Strand and Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon will formally challenge of the RAAF personnel before officially granting them entry.

Townsville has not hosted a freedom of entry parade since 2016.

Queensland Police Inspector Dave Crosby formally challenges HMAS Paluma before granting the request for Freedom of Entry through the ship’s namesake town of Paluma, North Queensland.