Mayor Hamblin at the recent Freedom of Entry event that was held to celebrate the City’s close ties with HMAS Stirling.
The City of Rockingham is a Navy town Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling, lies on our doorstep just across Cockburn Sound and there is a distinct Royal Australian Navy (RAN) presence in our community. We enjoy a strong relationship with Defence and we are proud to be home to thousands of Defence personnel, veterans and their families. Our close ties date back to when HMAS Stirling was commissioned in 1978. In the 45 years since then Australians from our local community, and across the country, have called Rockingham home while serving. With so many veterans living here, it’s crucial there are adequate support services in place to assist them. The City welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement earlier this year regarding plans to establish a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub. With the RAN’s presence set to grow even more in Rockingham in the near future, I hope this hub will be the first of many new services that our veterans can access in the years ahead. Recently the City celebrated its bond with Defence by hosting an historic Freedom of Entry Parade for HMAS Stirling. People lined the streets to enjoy this once in a generation event, and it was pleasing to see how much our community respects and appreciates the contribution Defence and veterans make. Should the opportunity ever arise, I strongly encourage you to come and Rediscover Rockingham. With 37 km of spectacular coastline, Rockingham is renowned for its safe, calm waters, pristine beaches, marine animals and abundance of aquatic activities available in the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Here you’ll find Penguin Island and the breathtaking scenery of Cape Peron. When you visit you’ll find out exactly why our City is known as ‘the place where the coast comes to life’.
DEB HAMBLIN
City of Rockingham Mayor
28 THE LAST POST – 2023 REMEMBRANCE DAY EDITION
