An armed (and highly polished) army battalion will be taking Lismore by storm this weekend in the biggest and finest mix of medieval and modern pageantry. In the name of respect, honour and trust, the Freedom of Entry parade - an age-old defence tradition - will be happening on our streets this Saturday as part of the 2024 Lismore Lantern parade.

The 41st Battalion, our local battalion since the Great War, has only ever marched in a Freedom of Entry ceremony, one other time in Lismore, 1972. 

“Having Freedom of Entry and being issued a scroll like this (above) from council is regarded as one of one of the highest military honours a unit can receive.” Lieutenant Colonel Danial Healy, the head of the 41st Battalion, says.

“It demonstrates the strong connection and bond the unit has with the community. The ability to actually walk through and bear arms within the community demonstrates the trust that the community has in the unit.

“What we're enacting on Saturday will be what happened back in 1972.”

That was the only other time this significant event has occurred in Lismore. There was one other event of an army parading in Lismore - for the Changing of the Colours in the mid-1990s. This is not a common occasion.

The event is timed to be in conjunction with the Lismore Lantern Parade. Jyllie Jackson OAM, said, “It's such an enormous honour for us in the Lantern Parade to have the 41st Battalion join us on our special day. And it'll be such an amazing experience for everybody who comes along to see the soldiers marching through our streets.”

As part of the parade and pageantry, the army will be challenged by the Richmond PD Superintendent, Scott Tanner, to which the ADF has to prove it has a right of entry.  

“It's a great honour for New South Wales Police to be able to challenge the ADF on their Freedom of Entry to the city. We have a very strong working relationship, certainly no more than during the 2022 Floods, where we stood side by side with the community in support.”

With a smile, Supt Tanner said, “I hope that they're presented well because it will dictate whether they are allowed entry into the city. It's not a given right! Certainly the challenge will be something that is a good experience for everyone. I do encourage everyone to come down and be part of the day.”

The ADF will need to impress more than the Superintendent of Police on the day. Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg will inspect the troops, and it’s fair to say, he is looking forward to it.

Mayor Krieg acknowledges the importance of the right bestowed on Lismore with a Freedom of Entry.

“It's pretty significant for a whole troop of soldiers to walk through your city ready for combat. And that's why the superintendent's got to give them the pass mark or not. 

“It’s a really exciting event for me personally as the mayor of the city to be able to participate. You see these things on the news all the time where Prime Ministers and Presidents inspect the troops… Well, the humble little old mayor of Lismore gets to do that on Saturday. So very exciting, for me personally, but also for the city.”

This event has been seven months in the making. But everyone involved sees the worth and importance of the reasons behind it. The value of a close relationship with the ADF proved invaluable after the 2022 floods.

Lieutenant Colonel Healy was not present at the floods, but he spoke of his force’s efforts.

“The battalion responded to the floods quite quickly and provided immediate response with helping local members of the community that were in need.

“We are an infantry battalion, but we also have drivers and cooks and stewards and vehicle mechanics and as well as our soldiers getting out there - knocking on doors, assisting the community and also assisting with rescue efforts. 76 members that responded quickly were awarded a gold commendation from Defence for their efforts.”

As Ms Jackson relates, “Some were impacted themselves, and many were helping us afterwards. I think it's a great connection between the 41st battalion and the Lantern Parade and our community.”

At 1.30pm on Saturday, up to 200 ADF will parade down Magellan Street towards the Memorial Baths. There will be a challenge along the way, and the inspection of the troops will occur at the Memorial Baths. Pipes and drums from the Australian Army Band in Newcastle will be playing as part of the parade, and into the night for the 2024 Lismore Lantern Festival. 

“This is really significant, just to be able to say thank you for all the work that they've done,” says Mayor Krieg, “There's going to be heavy army vehicles to block the streets, it's going to be a real military show. The more people we can get to line the streets and see the troops marching through, the better. They will be bearing arms!”

Speaking to Regimental Sergeant Major Michael Dowling, “It's one of the highest honours that a unit within a community can receive. It’s granting our freedom to march through the city of Lismore. We will have our swords drawn, band playing drums beating and colours flying.”

(RSM Michael Dowling)

RSM Dowling said the soldiers have been drilling for a significant ceremonial event. They will be wearing their ceremonial uniform, which includes medals and their regular-use guns.

“So the officers will be carrying swords, our traditional infantry swords. We will be carrying our normal infantry rifles, EF88. These are our (issued) weapons that we use and train with.”

This is a rare spectacle, the 41st Battalion has paraded for Freedom of entry in other places from Tweed to Taree, but they are not performed often - the last was in 2008. 

Don’t be late! It starts at 1.30pm and the larger part of the pageantry will be at the Lismore War Memorial on Molesworth Street, concluding at 2pm.