A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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Christmas Island is a small island rising sharply up out of the sea. An interesting fact is that
we were sitting in 600m of depth when tied at the buoy 200m from shore. It has a
population of approximately 1500 which are mostly Chinese, Indonesian and Island
migrators with some ex-Australian Mainlanders thrown in.
We were able to go ashore in groups of 60 a day for day leave if on the nominated sheet
and not required for duty. Other times we got to go ashore were for the Kanimbla verses
Christmas Island sport days i.e. Soccer and touch footy. Ship's company could also volunteer
to go ashore to help restore a run down Gun emplacement and bunker, which was
overthrown by the Japanese during WWII. This was a good-will contribution from the ship to
the Island people.
On the way back to Darwin the ship stopped to help a stricken yacht, which had a broken
rudder. The ship sent over a dive crew to remove the broken rudder, had the ship’s
carpenters make up a new one and had the divers refit it. The yacht was back underway
within the day.
Back in Darwin we were fortunate enough to be selected to go on an expedition to
Katherine Gorge with 30 other ship’s company. We experienced canoeing Katherine Gorge,
various national parks, thermal pools and various waterfalls.
Our time with the ship gave us a valuable insight into how other departments function
within the daily running of a ship. We all got along well with the ship's company including
all ranks. The ships crew appreciated our playing of wakey, wakey in the mornings and beer
calls. They would often ask us to play their favourite tunes and we would learn them by ear
to play at the next available pipe. This helped to boost morale, as it was different from the
norm. It was also good for other sailors to see that we can “hold our own” when given other
challenges outside of our normal band work and perform hose challenges well.
I would recommend sea trips to other bandies so that they can get “out there” and
experience “sea life” as it is. Then they can answer the question that we are all so often
asked, “What’s it like being at sea?”
I Would also like to take this opportunity to thank Able Seaman’s Henderson, Rankine,
Collidge and Douglas for their hard work including, team work in transposing and rewriting
charts, their valuable input during rehearsals, and lastly the enduring and trying times
finding a suitable rehearsal space. Job Well Done. Also thanks to CO HMAS Kanimbla, DMUS-
N and the Band Officers for giving us the opportunity to experience life at sea.
HMAS Sydney: Article by Petty Officer Nick Pearce
Everyone in the Navy will tell you, "Never volunteer for anything". In this case, common dog
was ignored. In less than forty-eight hours after being informed of this deployment, a
seven-piece ensemble had been selected from a list of names submitted from the musicians
of Sydney and Melbourne Detachments.
The musicians chosen for the deployment, Petty Officer Pearce, (sax/clarinet/vocals),
Leading Seaman Collins (trombone/keys), Leading Seaman Watson (tuba/electric bass),
Able Seaman Honor (saxophones/flute) Able Seaman Goninion (drums), Able Seaman Hansch
(trumpet/bugle), Seaman Dowd ( vocals/guitar/bass drum).
The ensembles roles have been to perform beat to quarters followed by ceremonial sunset's
and to provide the ship with a rock band, jazz ensemble and a small parade band for all
other functions and occasions.
After completing our basic NBCD course at HMAS Creswell we managed to get a few days of
quick rehearsal at Sydney studio to brush up our drum corps skills and to quickly go over a
twelve song forty minute set with the rock band. We departed Sydney airport early on the
11Sep 02 and made our way to Darwin to meet HMAS Sydney. The next day we waited on
the dock of Darwin Navy Base until approximately 1000. Sydney steamed into Harbour and
anchored, we loaded our equipment into a workboat and climbed onboard, were issued
bedding, boots, anti-flash and overalls and then continued to post in.
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage