October 12, 2026
A meeting was held with Australian Defence Force representatives in Kingaroy on Friday morning to discuss a possible “Freedom Of Entry” celebration in the South Burnett in late 2027.
Present were representatives from the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch and South Burnett Regional Council.
“Freedom Of Entry” is an ancient ceremony that grants a trusted military force the right to enter a town “with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying”.
southburnett.com.au understands that initially the proposal was for troops from the School Of Signals Electronic Warfare Wing at Carbarlah to exercise their right of entry to Kingaroy, which was granted by the South Burnett Regional Council in 2017.
It would have been a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of this event.
However, South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff was keen for other South Burnett towns to be involved this time.
The new suggestion involves a celebration in Kingaroy’s Memorial Park with buses to bring former ADF personnel to the event from across the region.
Nanango Shire Council granted Freedom Of Entry to the Carbarlah unit in November 1993 (which was exercised again a few years later) but this possibly lapsed with Council amalgamations in 2008.
Earlier, the 25/49 RQR Battalion, which maintains an Army Reserve depot in Wondai, was granted Freedom Of Entry to Wondai – and then Kingaroy – by the pre-amalgamation councils in the mid-1980s.
Related articles:
