City Libraries, City of Gold Coast

Freedom of the City ceremony for 41 Battery, 11 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, at Owen Park, Southport, Queensland, 3 December 1967, Photographer unknown

picture

Freedom of the City ceremony for 41 Battery, 11 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, at Owen Park, Southport, Queensland, 3 December 1967

picture

Photographer unknown

http://bibfra.me/vocab/marc/not-applicable

"Men who fought in the water to save Gold Coast beaches in the June erosion crisis stood in the rain at Southport on Sunday to receive the freedom of the city. They were members of 41 Battery, 11 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery who were honoured in a unique ceremony, a first for the Gold Coast and only the third in Queensland since separation in 1859. The Freedom of the City was conferred by the Mayor of the Gold Coast, Ald. Bruce Small and the Town Clerk, Mr Arthur Angove in the presence of the Minister for Territories Mr C E Barnes, military dignitaries and members of the public. The Mayor explained that granting of the Freedom of the City was a picturesque and ancient ritual originated in the medieval struggle for power between the British Barons and the rapidly growing city and borough corporations. It was the Gold Coast's way of saying thank you for the wonderful job the 'sandbag soldiers' did in saving the precious Gold Coast beaches in the June erosion dilemma."--Gold Coast Bulletin, 6 December 1967, page 5"The Gold Coast area has cause to be proud of 'it's own' 41 Battery 11 Field Regiment as this brief history will show: The unit of which 41 Battery is a part was originally raised after World War 2 on May 1, 1948 and was designated 3 Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment. It was equipped with 40 mm Bofors quick-firing guns and also with 90 cm and 150 cm searchlights. Right from the time of the raising of the unit a battery was established in and recruited from the area now known as the city of Gold Coast. The first officer commanding the battery stationed at Southport was Major R H Shepherd."--Gold Coast Bulletin, 6 December 1967, page 5

not applicable