A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

- 160 –
Half of us performed with the Ceremonial Band and the other half with the Big Band. Add
to this a few combined performances with the Rock Band element to the Royal Australian
Navy Band being involved in about 20 performances during its Hawaiian visit.
Work for the Ceremonial Ensemble included a number of Change of Command Ceremonies
for ships including the USS Chosin, the submarine USS Los Angeles (of Hunt for Red October
fame and the oldest nuclear submarine in the fleet) and a number of shore establishments
for the Navy and the United States Coast Guard.
The PACFLEET Band really enjoyed the opportunity to have members of the Royal
Australian Navy Band sit in and perform with them. In particular, Leading Seaman Daniel
Sponiar, Able Seaman Vladimir Shvetsov and Able Seaman Dana Moran, these members
performed a number of solos and also had charts selected to feature them. In full group
rehearsals, these members helped pass on and improve the improvisation and stylistic skills
of the PACFLEET Band.
Performance highlights for the Big Band included playing before the 4 th July Fireworks at
Honolulu, Sunset on the Beach at Waikiki and the Haliewa Arts Festival on the North Shore.
It was not all hard work and no play though. Our routine still allowed us to get out and
about and see the sights of Hawaii. The night life of Waikiki, the views from Diamond Head,
the sombre atmosphere of Punch Bowl Cemetery and Memorial for the War in the Pacific,
snorkelling amongst the coral reefs, fish and turtles of Hanama Bay and the North Shore and
of course surfing at the home of surfing.
The most enjoyable facet of our visit to Hawaii was the hospitality shown to us by our
hosts, the members of the US Navy’s’ Pacific Fleet Band. At all times they made sure that
we knew all the best places to go and provided plenty of after hours social opportunities in
their own homes.
Eventually it came time to depart Hawaii, procedure Alpha to farewell Pearl Harbor. For
the voyage to Vanuatu the musicians performed at a steel deck BBQ and was a major part
of the ship’s concert. However, the most important event was the appointment made on
our way to Hawaii with King Neptune! Seven bandy Polliwogs were presented before the
King and paid their respects.
Our Port Visit to Vanuatu began the same as Pearl Harbor, a Cocktail Party and Ceremonial
Sunset with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu in attendance. The Jazz group had a
performance on stage in a park that was well-received. Able Seaman Matthew Capper, Able
Seaman Steve Foxe and Able Seaman Penny Charles are to be congratulated for assisting
with a charity project the ship was involved in. This consisted of building new rooms and
making improvements to a hospital and chapel.
On Wednesday 16 August 2006 the ship got back into Sydney, although it was a fairly short
deployment we were all ready to be home and spend time with their friends and family.
During this short deployment, members of the Royal Australian Navy Band demonstrated
their ability to be flexible and adapt to changing routines in order to provide the most
public relations value to the Navy and Australia
Aloha and Mahalo
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage