35 Sqn Freedom of the City - Cooktown FNQ.

A Freedom of the City march/parade will be held in honour of 35 Sqn in Cooktown (Qld) sometime between April and August next year – and we’re invited. If you've worked on the Caribou you're included.

It is still in the planning stage and as soon as a firm date is agreed upon I will let everyone know. The parade is being organised by a CPL Renae Halley from 35 Sqn and she is trying to gather some relevant information as to what's previously been conducted by 35 Sqn.

She says: “At this early stage, if you're able to assist in any way on the following points I'd be very appreciative:

• airport / air traffic control details. (Grab the Enroute supplement from the crew room - tb)

• previously used accommodation options for up to 50 personnel.

• previous vehicle support companies / options.

• previous local watering hole (pub) details.

• admin instruction/s or copies of ANY documentation from previous FOC march's.

• anything else of relevance.

I've touched base with the Cook Shire Mayor, Mr. Peter Scott and his initial response to have 35SQN infiltrate his town is positive. I am scheduling a meeting for next week with a small committee I have set up to really get the ball rolling. I anticipate more questions will follow and the plan will further evolve”.

The RAAF’s plan so far is:

• 35SQN Executives and parade members arrive on a FRIDAY.

• Conduct FOC march the following SATURDAY.

• Conduct a post parade fuction on that SATURDAY.

• Organise a 'social' event with local residents the following SUNDAY (ie: cricket match and BBQ lunch).

• All 35SQN members depart late SUNDAY or MONDAY.

If you can help, let me know and I'll pass on the info. Any help/suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

The Freedom of the City was given to the 35 Squadron in 1998 as a result of the close ties between the Squadron and the Cooktown community over several years.

Sally Eales, the Tourism and Events Officer with the Cook Shire Council has offered the local accommodation options available in Cooktown and you can see the list HERE.

“From the photos I’ve seen it looks like a wonderful place for a few days holiday, perhaps we could arrange a “convoy” and all those interested in going could meet in Brisbane and we could all drive up together or we could hire a coach and all pile in and go up that way. It’s 2,000 klm from Brisbane so that’s a few nights on the road each way but if there is enough interest I can put on the planning hat and organise some events/tours (see HERE) - we can play Grey Nomads and have a lot of fun on the way up and on the way back down again.

The road from Brisbane to Cairns is sealed all the way and very easy. There are two ways to get from Cairns to Cooktown, the inland route is fully sealed, is 330 klms long and takes about 4 hours. The coastal route is only 230 klms in length but bits of it are for 4wd vehicles only. I would suggest we liaise with the Cook Shire Council tourist department and organise some group “sight-seeing activities” on the Monday after the parade, perhaps a bit of fishing -  and possibly something on the Tuesday as well before heading south again, after all, it is a damn long drive if we’re only going to stay 2 nights.

I reckon we could be away for about ten days, if you've got a caravan or a mobile home or even a tent, get it ready, those without a house on wheels, don't worry, we'll plan the whole thing around stopping in van parks with cabins so we can all get together and play up at the end of day. We could go up via the coastal route and down via the inland route, Charters Towers, Winton, Charleville etc. A "must see" on the way home would have to be the Undara lava tubes HERE.

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