A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
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- 158 –<br />
Three other commissioning and decommissioning ceremonies followed in the next few<br />
months and each of those continued to demonstrate a high level of cooperation and<br />
achievement between the various detachments. Of course, there were the usual <strong>Navy</strong> Week<br />
tasks in other locations and each detachment has a very busy schedule to contend with<br />
locally. This has been the busiest period in recent memory and the results and effort by all<br />
of our people has been truly remarkable.<br />
That level of achievement combined with a high profile and strong contribution to <strong>Navy</strong><br />
over the last four years, has been acknowledged with good funding support and a number of<br />
Flag Officer Commendations. There are many amongst our team worthy of commendation<br />
and I was particularly pleased to see a number of commendations recently awarded to our<br />
musicians by the <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Systems Commander. Commodore Peter Jones presented<br />
five commendations to members of the Sydney detachment (at HMAS Creswell) and at the<br />
same time, I presented another commendation on his behalf to a member in the Melbourne<br />
detachment. These commendations acknowledge a lot of hard work; but in particular, a<br />
strong and sustained contribution by the recipients across a number of areas of<br />
performance. In recent years, each of these members has served at sea and on operations,<br />
and each has contributed beyond their primary role: this adds significant value, capability<br />
and flexibility to the band. I join the Systems Commander in saluting Chief Petty Officer<br />
Andrew Stapleton, Petty Officer Camille Smith, Leading Seaman Jason Beach, Able Seaman<br />
Tracy Burke, Able Seaman Andrew Hansch, and Able Seaman Kirstin Paynter on their<br />
achievements. They have brought much credit to themselves and <strong>Navy</strong>.<br />
Merry Christmas, travel safe, recharge the batteries and thank you for your contribution to<br />
the <strong>Navy</strong> Band, ‘one of Australia’s premiere military ensembles’.<br />
ALL HANDS ON DECK<br />
Article by Lieutenant Andrew Stokes, RAN<br />
The <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band, in company with some of the best bands from around the<br />
world, participated in the Brunei International Tattoo 2006 (BIT 2006) in July and August<br />
this year. This special event marked the 60 th birthday celebrations for His Majesty Sultan<br />
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei<br />
Darussalam. Other countries involved in the tattoo were Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia,<br />
Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, Jordan and Vietnam.<br />
Prior to the tattoo performances the participants split up and headed out into the regional<br />
areas of Brunei for the BIT 2006 ‘Road Show’. One group went to Tutong and another to the<br />
Belait district. The <strong>Australian</strong> contingent, along with the participants from Thailand,<br />
Vietnam and Oman, boarded a ferry for a two-hour trip through dense tropical rainforest<br />
along the Temburong River to Temburong.<br />
The people of Temburong were delighted by the arrival of the BIT 2006 Road Show. They<br />
lined the waterfront and cheered as the ferry pulled up in the midst of their Water<br />
Carnival. After some light refreshments, the Road Show participants commenced a street<br />
march from the District Office to Bangar Town’s Commercial Area where they performed a<br />
selection of music drawn from the tattoo as separate contingents and as a massed band.<br />
Following the performance, all contingents were treated to lunch and a cultural show at<br />
Sultan Hasan Primary School before returning to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.<br />
After the highly successful Road Show performances, all contingents congregated for a<br />
‘Grand Parade’ through the streets of the capital. There was an air of excitement as<br />
thousands of people were treated with a sneak preview of the upcoming tattoo. The Grand<br />
Parade ended in spectacular fashion as all bands joined to perform four songs from the<br />
tattoo’s finale.<br />
With the Road Show and Grand Parade completed, there was anticipation among the public<br />
that a great show to be held at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium was on the way – and it<br />
did not disappoint.<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band: A Musical Voyage