The Naval Association

of Australia

RAN FLEET ENTRY SYDNEY HARBOUR FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2009 AND FREEDOM OF ENTRY TO THE CITY OF SYDNEY 14 MARCH 2009

NSW Section has provided a liaison officer for this event. He is NSW Vice President Bob Cooper - telephone 0418 629 846

Speaking with the Australian National Maritime Museum they have agreed to permit personnel in uniform FREE ENTRY into the Museum. Members of the NAA not dressed in uniform will be admitted for HALF PRICE. There is a cafe in the Maritime Museum which can provide meals, soft drinks and beer. Thank you to the Maritime Museum for arranging this. By the way - this is a children / grandchildren friendly site!

Further information is available at:- http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=27&c=3772

Suggested meeting places after the march has finished: STRATTONS HOTEL Cnr Liverpool and Castlereagh Sts , next to ANZAC HOUSE. (Street Address:- 249-253 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW 2000.) Opens at 0900 (that's 9am for everyone else) closest station is Museum or Town Hall.

Details and route of the Admiral's Barge and anchorage positions for ships (taken from Navy website 9 March 2009):-

FLEET ENTRY, FLEET AIR ARM AND FLEET DIVISIONS

Date: Friday, 13 March 2009
Time: 7.30am
Where: Fleet entry will start at the Heads of Sydney Harbour and anchor near Garden Island.

FLEET ENTRY, FLEET AIR ARM FLYPAST AND FLEET DIVISIONS

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will conduct a ceremonial Fleet Entry with 15 warships steaming into Sydney Harbour accompanied by a Fleet Air Arm Flypast. This spectacular event will be the culmination of the Fleet Concentration Period, one of the Navy’s largest exercises, conducted on the East Coast of Australia during February and March 2009. This will be followed by a ceremonial inspection of the RAN ships by the Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Nigel Coates, AM, RAN, and his senior staff while the ships are at anchor in Sydney Harbour.

The ships will be anchored in the harbour between Kirribilli Point and Bradley’s Head, out of the way of the main shipping channels. This number of warships has not been seen in Sydney Harbour since the Bicentennial celebrations in 1988. The Fleet Entry coincides with other Sydney Harbour Week 2009 activities, and interest from a variety of yachting, boating and historical maritime clubs is expected.

PROGRAM

The program for the event is as follows:

0715: HMAS Sydney 2.5nm East of Line Zulu.
0730: HMAS Sydney leads the Fleet of 15 ships into Sydney Harbour.

All Ship’s in Procedure ALPHA.
All Ship’s pay respects to HMAS Sydney 1 Mast

0810: HMAS Sydney Anchors
0810-0930: Ships Anchor as detailed in Anchorage Plan.
On completion: All Ships make preps for Divisions ‘Out Ladders and Boats’
On completion: Ships Boats as directed Inshore.
+30 minutes: Prep’s complete/Ships Companies Fall In for Divisions
Inspecting Officer received Onboard (Piping Party) Divisions.
On completion: Divisions complete/Clear off the Upperdecks.
0945: Dress Ship.
0950: All Ships Clear Lower Deck – Man Ship.
1000: COMAUSFLT departs Mosman Wharf with Her Excellency the Governor of NSW.
1000-1040: Fleet Review.
1001: HMAS Sydney commences 21 Gun Salute.
Cheer Ship as Her Excellency sails past in the Admiral’s Barge.
1010: Seahawk flypast with AWE.
1020: Fleet Air Arm flypast.
1030: F/A-18 flypast (to be confirmed).
Fall Out/Clear off the Upperdecks/Clean into S8’s.
On completion: Weigh anchor/berth FBE/sail as directed in the Berthing Plan below.

BERTHING PLAN

FREEDOM OF ENTRY TO THE CITY OF SYDNEY

Date: Saturday, 14 March 2009
Where: Sydney CBD
Starts: Parade Commences from the Rocks at 10:00am
Finishes: Parade Concludes adjacent Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour at 11:30am
Route: From the Rocks along George Street, past Town Hall, right into Liverpool Street, finishing adjacent Tumbalong Park
Point of Contact: Major Events Coordinator, Fleet Headquarters, LCDR Julie Fowler (julieanne.fowler@defence.gov.au).

FREEDOM OF ENTRY TO THE CITY OF SYDNEY

For the first time in over 20 years, the Royal Australia Navy (RAN) will exercise its right to the Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney on Saturday 14 March 2009. After a number of ceremonial activities, the parade will commence at 10:00am from The Rocks. The parade of Officers and Sailors will march along George Street, past the Sydney Town Hall, turn right into Liverpool Street and finish adjacent Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour at 11:30am.

The Queen's Colour will be paraded as part of this ceremony and will be the first time it has been paraded by the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney since it was presented by the Governor General in 1989.

It is expected that there will be up to 5000 RAN personnel marching along with Australian Naval Cadets from all over NSW and the ACT. This march will be the largest parade of naval personnel since the World War II Victory in Japan Day Parade in 1945. More than one third of the RAN will be participating and an event of this scale is unlikely to occur again in the near future.

PROGRAM

The following is the sequence of events for the Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney March:

0830: Road Closures by RTA in The Rocks area (George and Argyle Streets).
0830: Command and Ceremonial Sentry positioned at George Street (front of march).
0900: All HMAS Parramatta and Fleet HQ Platoon personnel muster near corner of George and Argyle Street (back entrance of Museum of Contemporary Art).
0910: Royal Guard Fall-In.
0915: Guard March into position/Halt/Ready Guard to receive Queens Colour.
0915: All personnel (other than PARRAMATTA and Fleet HQ personnel) muster in Overseas Passenger Terminal area. Personnel are to bypass the area where pre-march ceremonial and presentation activities are taking place in George Street.
0915: HMAS Parramatta/Fleet HQ platoon Markers called/Parade Fall-In.
0920: March in the Queens Colour.
0930: Her Excellency Arrives, met by the Fleet Commander and Navy Systems Commander.
Her Excellency receives Royal Salute and inspects the Royal Guard.
Her Excellency escorted to HMAS Parramatta (Winners of Gloucester Cup) for speech and presentation of Cup.
0930: All ships/establishment and ANC platoons fall in. Ceremonial staff (wearing Parade Marshallers armbands) will assist with positioning. Platoon OICs are to size platoons, final check of rigs and turn platoon in direction of march.
0945: Her Excellency Receives Royal Salute on departure/Escorted to car by COMAUSFLT. All VIPs depart for Town Hall. Car door openers provided.
0950: Reform the Guard/Position the Queens Colour.
0952: Turn the George Street Parade components (Guard, Band, HMAS Parramatta and Fleet HQ platoons in Preparation to Step Off).
0954: Challenge by the NSW Police Commissioner or his representative. Fleet Commander responds.
1000: Parade Steps Off and marches along George Street.
1025: Head of March arrives at Town Hall, continues south and turns right into Liverpool Street.
1120: FOE March completes at Entertainment Centre and Chinese Gardens Forecourt area Darling Harbour. Parade Marshallers will strictly enforce the dismissal area as platoons dismissed will not be allowed to disperse into the parade route area. The entire parade needs to have a free-flow into Darling Harbour to clear the road closures that have been organised.
On completion: March Out the Queens Colour.
1120 approx.: Parade Dismiss. Royal Guard return weapons/gear (transport available for Guard and band personnel only).

The information below has just been received (Monday 9 February 200() and is posted for general information. Arrangements are currently being made for a liaison officer to be appointed - more than likely from the NSW Section for POC issues. As soon as the nominee is known I will post the information. In the meanwhile should anybody be thinking of attending the info under will be of some use:-

Les

Following information is provided based on the information that is correct as of today.

Please note that whilst the Governor-General has been invited to officiate at the Fleet Review and the Freedom of Entry - we have NOT been advised that she can attend. Please ensure that any information that is passed to associates/members take this into account as we have to ensure the correct protocols are followed.

Fleet Entry and Fleet Review – Friday, 13 March 2009

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will conduct a ceremonial Fleet Entry with up to 16 warships steaming into Sydney Harbour. This spectacular event will be the culmination of the Fleet Concentration Period, one of the Navy’s largest exercises, conducted on the East Coast of Australia during February and March 2009. This will be followed by a ceremonial inspection of the RAN ships by the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, AM, RAN, and his senior staff while the ships are at anchor in Sydney Harbour.

Her Excellency The Governor-General of Australia has been invited to officiate the Fleet Review and the program for the morning is presently planned as follows:

0715 HMAS SYDNEY 2.5nm East of Line Zulu

0730 HMAS SYDNEY leads the Fleet into Sydney Harbour

All Ship’s in Procedure ALPHA (Dress S2’s)

All Ship’s pay respects to HMAS SYDNEY 1 Mast

Civilian vessels are requested to comply with normal Rule of the Road requirements and for this occasion remain at least 60yds abeam/astern and 200yds ahead of each warship

0810 HMAS SYDNEY Anchors

0810-0930 Ships Anchor as detailed in Anchorage Plan.

O/C Individually Fall out Procedure ALPHA

O/C All Ships make preps for Divisions ‘Out Ladders and Boats’

RAN ships will dress ship at this time

O/C Ships Boats as directed Inshore

+30mins Prep’s complete / Ships Companies Fall In for Divisions

Inspecting Officer received Onboard (Piping Party)

Divisions

+60mins Inspecting Officers Piped Ashore (Piping Party)

O/C Division Complete / Clear off the Upperdecks / Stow Ladders

0945 All Ships Clear Lower Deck – Man Ship

1000 COMAUSFLT departs Admiralty House with Her Excellency (The Governor General has yet to accept the invitation to review the Fleet)

1000-1045 Fleet Review

HMAS SYDNEY commences 21 Gun Salute – there will be a 100m exclusion zone around HMAS SYDNEY in the lead up to and for the 21 gun salute

Cheer Ship as Her Excellency sails Past in the Admiral’s Barge

Fall Out / Clear off the Upperdecks / Clean into S8’s

O/C Weigh Anchor / Berth FBE / Sail as directed in the Berthing Plan. All ships expected to be berthed alongside FBE by 1pm

During the Fleet Review it is planned that there will be a flypast of Seahawk with the large AWE under carriage, a flypast of 6 Navy helicopters and later in the Review an F111 flypast (all of this will be weather dependent). The RAN also has permission to fly an AWE from the Sydney Harbour bridge.

Some members of the FNSA and Naval Warfare Officers Associations have booked cruises to coincide with the Fleet Entry. Ken Swain for example has liaised with Majistic Cruises as well and they are offering a $22 per person cruise (including morning tea). The Sydney Heritage Fleet, RMYC, various Sydney-based yacht squadrons and other interested mariners - will be meeting the Fleet as they enter Sydney Harbour.

There will be ferries leaving Circular Quay at regular intervals to transit from CQ to the RAN Heritage Centre at Garden Island - and this makes a great viewing area.

The RAN will not be putting on any spectator craft themselves

Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney – Saturday, 14 March 2009

For the first time in over 20 years, the Royal Australia Navy (RAN) will exercise its right to the Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney on Saturday 14 March 2009. After a number of ceremonial activities, the parade will commence at 10:00am from The Rocks. The parade of Officers and Sailors will march along George Street, past the Sydney Town Hall, turn right into Liverpool Street and finish in the Chinese Gardens Forecourt area, Darling Harbour at 11:30am.

It is expected that there will be up to 4000 RAN personnel marching along with Australian Naval Cadets from all over NSW and the ACT. This march will be the largest parade of Naval personnel since the World War II Victory in Japan Day Parade in 1945. More than one third of the RAN will be participating and an event of this scale is unlikely to occur again in the near future.

On completion of the march, the RAN Band will conduct recitals at various venues in Darling Harbour (ampitheatre from 2pm and onboard Vampire at the Australian National Maritime Museum) and there will be an aircraft emulator at the ANMM.

The timings for the march are as follows:

SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2009

0830 All Royal Guard, RAN Band, HMAS PARRAMATTA and FHQ Personnel muster cnr George/Argyle St, The Rocks (they need to muster earlier as they will be formed up in George St to march out the Queens Colour and then to present to GG, followed by GG presenting PARRA with Gloucestor Cup and then we do the challenge with the City of Sydney)

0900 All other RAN Personnel muster in the Circular Quay West/Overseas Passenger Terminal area as detailed in the respective Ship/Establishment annexes

0915 Guard March into position / Halt / Ready for Colour

0915 Markers / Fall-In PARRAMATTA / FHQ

0922 March in the Queens Colour

0930 Her Excellency The Governor-General of Australia arrives, met by COMAUSFLT and COMAUSNAVSYSCOM (CN might also be here or already at Town Hall with other VVIPs)

Escorted to Royal Guard

Royal Salute

Escorted to HMAS PARRAMATTA (Past Band to 1st platoon) – Steps of Contemporary Art Museum

Presents the Gloucester Cup

Escorted back to Guard and Receives a Royal Salute

0945 Her Excellency Departs (but we are offering her opportunity to witness FOE challenge which will occur at 0950 or as soon as GG departs

1000 Parade Steps Off

1025 Guard Arrives at Town Hall / Royal Salute (this is put in for a timing perspective but the parade once going will not halt until arrival at Darling Harbour)

1040 City March completes at Darling Harbour (Guard)

1115 Last platoon arrives at Darling Harbour (it will be a cadet platoon)

Only uniformed personnel will be marching.

Veterans/associations are invited to witness the march and some associations have indicated that they will be displaying their banners in the area near the City of Sydney Town Hall. We have advised the associations previously contacted that there are MINIMUM facilities around the Town Hall area. There is unlikely to be much seating as the Town Hall is being renovated and there will be no scaffolding set up. There will be a small area for the Governor General, Lord Mayor, Federal and State Politicians and the Chief of Navy.

If any further information is required please contact me via email (preference)

Cheers,

Les Dwyer

National President

9 February 2009

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