A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy

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I remember looking up at the sphinx then back down at the Australian "Fanatics" who had
all locked arms around each others shoulders, some had even began to cry as the Ode was
being read, and what I said in my mind was " to be proud mate of who you are and where
you’re from, you’re a bloody Aussie, come on". The bugle call went very smoothly and I felt
relaxed and knew I had all the time in the world. This was one of the three most
memorable moments of my life to date.
After the service I took a bit of time for myself to reflect upon the whole experience.
Coming here with only a patchy idea of what took place leading up to, during and after the
battles; I now had a fair understanding of what I had just participated in. To say I didn't
shed a tear that day would be a lie and it really is a place we as Australians should make an
effort to visit as it stands for everything we hold dear to our hearts. These were some of
the greatest men this world would ever see; it was a defining moment in my life and has
changed me forever.
At 11am it was time for the Lone Pine service. The whole contingent had been really
looking forward to this as it was a chance for us as Australians alone to pay our respects to
the finest of our soldiers in one of the bloodiest battles that took place on the peninsula.
Some 4,932 ANZAC's lost their lives over a stretch of ground no bigger than a footy field.
Probably the greatest moment was the Defence Minister's speech. After remarking on his
Dawn Service speech, what he delivered next will stay with me for all time, especially his
closing remarks. "Our generation owes theirs a debt we can barely comprehend - let alone
repay. But foremost it is too surely, "Keeping their memory". Can we not, in every
workplace, school and home, hang the photograph of just one of them who gave his all - his
life, for Australia? They are us and we are them. Lest We Forget". The Hon Dr Brendan
Nelson MP, Minister for Defence.
Once again the Royal Australian Navy Band played from their hearts, and when it came to
my call, my nerves were overridden by an overbearing sense of pride and all went well.
I hope these few words I have written above give you some idea of really how much this trip
meant to me. It was an absolute privilege going away with everyone involved and what
each one of us took away from our experiences will no doubt well inside our minds and
hearts till the day we die.
NAVY BAND TAKES BEIJING BY STORM
Article by Lieutenant Steve Stanke, RAN
On Friday the 9th of March, members of the Melbourne and Sydney detachments flew out of
Sydney for an exciting opportunity to perform at the 2007 Australia Ball in Beijing, China.
For the four days prior to departure, the ten personnel selected for the trip were extremely
busy working up some 45 songs for the rock group component and other numbers for the
jazz ensemble. We also put together a drum and bugle corps to perform a small floor show,
which included a drum ruffle, (thanks to Seaman Chris Thompson for his patience), Advance
Australia Fair, I am Australian and Waltzing Matilda.
Upon our arrival into Beijing we were greeted by Captain Vaughn Rixon (the Australian
Defence Force defence attaché in China) and, after a quick guided tour past a well lit
Tiananmen Square, we settled into the motel. A meal at the restaurant next door was made
easier by the fluent Chinese language skills of Captain Rixon who ordered our chosen meals,
and a culinary disaster was avoided.
Saturday morning was free time and all members had an opportunity to do some quick
sightseeing around the famous areas of Beijing. Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and
other historic places beckoned and, although the weather had supplied a vigorous cold snap
(minus 2 degrees with a wind chill factor of about minus 10 degrees) we were pleased with
the touring and shopping opportunities. Everyone seemed to find some bartering abilities,
with $15 Calvin Klein shirts top of the list. All genuine shirts of course, only the best made
in China.
The Australia Ball is provided by the Australia Embassy in Beijing for ex-pats and locals and
to our pleasant surprise over 700 tickets were sold, guaranteeing a large audience.
Royal Australian Navy Band: A Musical Voyage