A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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In March we embarked 11 musicians in HMAS Tobruk for a deployment to South East Asia
and the South Pacific. Petty Officer Brian O’Kane led the group to much applause and his
article, Musicians Fear Nought, contains a number of illustrations of how the musicians
successfully integrated into the ship.
We had planned a deployment for 20 of our reserve musicians in HMAS Kanimbla for June;
but unfortunately, despite best effort, the deployment could not proceed due to a change
in operational requirement for the ship. For all those reserves who volunteered and made
preparations for this deployment, thank you: I share your disappointment.
We recorded and released our latest CD, All Hands on Deck, which showcases each of our
seven detachments and the many talented soloists and instrumentalists who regularly add
value to Navy’s image across Australia and abroad.
One of our members, Able Seaman Matthew Van Emmerik made it through to the semi finals
of Symphony Australia’s Young Performer Awards. A very significant personal achievement:
Well done Matthew.
The band’s benchmark concert program continued but due to the heavy commitment to
Fleet activities only one benchmark concert has been undertaken so far this year. The
Flagship Recital in May, at the Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Melbourne,
utilised members from the Sydney and Melbourne detachments. I hope to follow this up
with another benchmark concert in Melbourne in October.
As we move into next financial year, I am pleased to report that, with the exception of the
Tasmanian detachment, each of the reserve detachments is fully complemented.
Difficulties associated with the Naval Reserve Initial Employment Training (NRIET) program
are being overcome but medium risk to capability shortfall in some detachments remains a
concern. Importantly, almost all of our people are in their posting of first choice, and exit
and wastage rates remain under 10 percent. Furthermore, there is only one position vacant
in the permanent component and the expected exit rate for the next 12 months remains
less than ten percent. However, imbalances with regard to instrumentation requirements
have resulted in a critical shortfall of clarinet and saxophone players.
Thank you for your contribution to ensuring that the Royal Australian Navy Band remains
‘one of Australia’s premier military ensembles’ and that its story of service to the nation
continues to be told.
MUSICIANS FEAR NOUGHT!
Article by Petty Officer Brian O’kane
Five members from the Melbourne detachment and six members from the Sydney
detachment of the Royal Australian Navy Band joined forces in the Sydney band studio and
commenced rehearsals for the deployment. We were to join HMAS Tobruk on Friday 10
March and then sail with her on the South East Asian and South West Pacific deployment
visiting Indonesia, Singapore and New Caledonia.
Once we had been allocated our racks and had a quick familiarisation of the ship it was
time to prepare for our first job as the Navy Band on board HMAS Tobruk. The engagement
was to be us, on the vehicle deck playing well-known Australian tunes as the ship departed
Sydney. This was a very proud moment for us, as well as one or two others alongside. The
next job at hand was to prepare for OPERATION PERINGGATAN. This was the memorial
service on the first anniversary of the 02 Sea King helicopter crash at the small village of
Tuindrao, Nias Island, Indonesia.
Once we arrived in Nias we were informed that only a bugler, singer and a sound engineer
would be required for the memorial service. Able Seaman Musicians Salone, Bastians and
Monk performed very well and the service was a success.
Our initial week on board gave us the chance to be involved in a Unit Readiness Evaluation.
Our contribution was purely Damage Control, and lots of it. All members of the band were
found in many different areas of the ship working well outside of their comfort zones.
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage