{"id":183621,"date":"2017-07-11T00:39:02","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T14:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=183621"},"modified":"2020-09-10T11:18:05","modified_gmt":"2020-09-10T01:18:05","slug":"council-signals-right-to-enter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/07\/11\/council-signals-right-to-enter\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Signals Right To Enter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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… with swords drawn, drums beating, flags flying and bands playing …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 11, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

An ancient ceremony that grants a trusted military force the right to enter a town was re-enacted in Kingaroy on Saturday with much pomp and circumstance.<\/p>\n

The trusted troops were from the Defence Force School Of Signals Electronic Warfare Wing, which trains at the Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah.<\/p>\n

Accompanied by an Australian Army Band from Brisbane, the signallers marched up Youngman Street and Haly Street until they were brought to a halt by Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Prendergast, who was representing Kingaroy Police.<\/p>\n

The police officer challenged the marchers who replied quite truthfully they had been granted the Freedom of Entry to Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

(A motion to this effect was passed by the South Burnett Regional Council in February.)<\/p>\n

This right entitled the signallers to enter Kingaroy on all ceremonial occasions “with swords drawn, drums beating, flags flying and bands playing …”<\/p>\n

Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Prendergast acknowledged that Council had granted them the right, and let the marchers past.<\/p>\n

The parade then turned into Glendon Street where the troops assembled in front of the official guests for the formal part of the ceremony.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Defence Force School Of Signals Electronic Warfare Wing (formerly known as the Joint Telecommunications School) was formed in 1986.<\/p>\n

It trains personnel from the three Defence arms and an average of 350 students graduate every year.<\/p>\n

The school is no stranger to the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

On November 11, 1993, it was the first training unit to be granted Freedom of Entry to Nanango Shire, and since then members have taken part in many local ceremonies.<\/p>\n

They have now added Kingaroy to their home territory …<\/p>\n