A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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RAN BAND NEWS EDITION NUMBER 4
RAN BAND DETACHMENT IN TURKEY FOR ANZAC
DAY 2004
30 JUNE 2004
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ANDREW STAPLETON AT
THE DAWN SERVICE, BAGHDAD, 2004
FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
This month marks two years since I was given the privilege of leading the RAN Band. It is
timely that in this edition I recap on some of our achievements during this period but in
particular, our outcomes since the band transferred from Maritime Command to Australian
Navy Systems Command last July.
The previous editions of our newsletter give testimony of where we’ve been and how we
travelled that journey. However, recent tasks have highlighted a period of significant
achievement. Importantly, since the transfer to Navy Systems Command the band has
continued its effort to renew and reshape itself to serve Navy as its needs change. The
band’s funding situation remains difficult and this has, to some extent, required us to
review the way that we do business. Nonetheless, and despite the angst caused through this
funding position, the band’s national results have been impressive.
Since the transfer the band has completed more than 510 missions for Navy (that’s 85 more
task than last Financial Year). Our performance for the Welcome Home Ceremony for HMAS
Kanimbla, the release of two new recordings (a Flagship Recital and Cruising Stations), our
contribution to the Commissioning Ceremony for HMAS Parramatta, our Flagship Recital at
the Eugene Goossen's Hall in Sydney marking the 90th anniversary of the band, and our role
in the Commissioning Ceremony for HMAS Ballarat were nation best.
Furthermore, our public relations figures remain strong and our web-site has achieved
significant page view and music down load results since going on the net. Importantly
though, since the transfer to Australian Navy Systems Command we have continued to reestablish
our links with the Fleet by embarking musicians in HMAS Warramunga, HMAS
Tobruk, HMAS Arunta and HMAS Parramatta. These deployments have followed on from the
previous year with deployments in HMAS Kanimbla (on two occasions), HMAS Sydney, and
HMAS Adelaide.