Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 15 and 16 October 2016, Townsville celebrated its 150th birthday with a truly spectacular T150 Defence Force Air Show and Townsville Bulletin Sky Show—the biggest day The Strand has ever seen. An estimated 80,000 people gathered at The Strand. In excess of 240 Townsville City Council staff, Queensland police and traffic management staff worked to make this event successful. Over 25 aircraft were on display. Five tonnes of fireworks, equal to two semitrailer loads, lit up the sky, which included 16,000 separate effects, which took seven pyrotechnic experts to coordinate.

The RAAF base was open to the public on Sunday, 16 October. This was an historic event that commenced with a formal parade along The Strand on Saturday morning. The RAAF base exercised their freedom of entry to the city of Townsville on Saturday, the 15th. The last time the RAAF base Townsville was granted freedom of entry to the city of Townsville was 27 September 1972. The freedom was exercised that same day. Townsville was also host to the US Pacific Fleet Band, who entertained the crowds. Congratulations to the Townsville City Council, the Townsville Bulletin, the Defence Force, the police force, the traffic management staff and the people of Herbert for what was a fantastic and historic family event.