A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
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- 141 –<br />
However, our role in the Repatriation Ceremony, the funerals and the National<br />
Thanksgiving Service for those killed in the crash of <strong>Navy</strong> Sea King SHARK 02 at Nias,<br />
Indonesia, will remain for me, our most important contribution to the wider <strong>Navy</strong> family in<br />
many years. Our role in those ceremonies ensured a proper level of military ceremony and<br />
added a sense of dignity to what were very sad occasions: It is hard to imagine a <strong>Navy</strong><br />
honouring its people in such a moving way without the involvement of its musicians.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some very hard work undertaken by<br />
many within the band. First of all, I wish to acknowledge our reserve musicians. One of the<br />
reasons that our marketing reach has been so successful is because of the commitment<br />
given by the members of our reserve detachments. It’s worthy to note that, unlike their<br />
full-time counterparts, our reserve musicians don’t get time off in lieu of weekend tasks.<br />
The Bandmasters of these small detachments also deserve special recognition. They have<br />
been working hard to manage the many demands asked of them whilst at the same time<br />
trying to move their detachments forward. A very difficult task, I am sure.<br />
I also wish to acknowledge the Band Officers and the divisional staff in each of the<br />
permanent detachments who I know are usually first in to work and last to leave. Whilst I<br />
am sure that they enjoy the privilege of their positions, I also know that quite often they<br />
don’t receive the accolades for the significant additional work that they undertake on<br />
behalf of their people and to ensure all of the administrative and divisional requirements<br />
are met.<br />
My personal team also deserve recognition. They too, are usually first in and last out. I<br />
know how hard each of them works to ensure the many and varied requirements of my<br />
office are fulfilled, and I have certainly enjoyed their company.<br />
Recently, the Senior Leadership Group and Outpost Bandmasters met to discus the Way<br />
Ahead. The revised vision and mission statements and Statement of Intent are contained at<br />
the end of this newsletter. I encourage you all to embrace <strong>Navy</strong>’s values, our value<br />
statements and our direction, and I look forward to the very exciting voyage ahead.<br />
Thank you for your valuable contribution, which has ensured that the <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong><br />
Band remains ‘one of Australia’s premier military ensembles’.<br />
A SALUTE TO AUSTRALIA<br />
Article by Leading Seaman Cassandra Mohapp<br />
In February this year, bands from all over the world came to Sydney to participate in The<br />
Edinburgh Tattoo – A Salute to Australia. The <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band, <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong><br />
Air Force Air Command Band, and <strong>Australian</strong> Army Band Sydney formed a contingent of over<br />
120 musicians.<br />
A Salute to Australia was held at Aussie Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney. Six performances to<br />
a crowd of over 25,000 at each performance ensured this spectacular experience reached<br />
many. International guests included military musicians from bands of the <strong>Royal</strong> Marines and<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> Air Force to the New Zealand Army Band. British Military Pipe Bands teamed up with<br />
<strong>Australian</strong> Pipe Bands and provided a thrilling opening sequence to a flourish of musical<br />
journeys to follow.<br />
The rehearsals seemed endless… and what a big task it was. We had less than a week to<br />
memorise the music, smarten up the drill and have everything in order.<br />
Very early starts, and late night finishes ensured we were as ready as we could be. Don’t<br />
get me wrong, we had some time to rest and relax.<br />
Even our international guests from Scotland found time to relax with a cheeky streak across<br />
the Sydney Cricket Ground (located right next to Aussie Stadium) with only his sporran to<br />
keep him warm!<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band: A Musical Voyage