A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
A MUSICAL VOYAGE - Royal Australian Navy
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- 221 –<br />
RAN BAND NEWS EDITION NUMBER 18<br />
15 AUGUST 2011<br />
ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR ‘A NAVAL SALUTE’<br />
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK<br />
As I read through the various articles in this edition of RAN Band News I could not help but<br />
be impressed by the volume of work being done across the whole of our programme, and<br />
the quality of output being produced. This edition articulates loudly, the significant work<br />
that our musicians are doing each and every day towards delivering positive news stories<br />
and enhancing <strong>Navy</strong>’s reputation. Those stories are not limited to just our musical<br />
achievements. For example, Petty Officer Gordon Orr’s achievement in winning the<br />
Champion Shot <strong>Navy</strong> Medal and Petty Officer Mark Ham who was selected to play for the<br />
combined <strong>Australian</strong> Services Cricket Team to compete in the Arafura Games 2011.<br />
This six-month period has been particularly busy with very successful international<br />
deployments to Abu Dhabi and Brunei, a national radio broadcast, and the recording and<br />
release of our latest recording, The Seafarer Mk II. However, the highlight and milestone<br />
event was our Flagship Recital, A Naval Salute, which celebrated the Centenary of the<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> on 10 July 2011.<br />
It was a rare occasion to have such an impressive list of distinguished guests present at the<br />
concert including the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC<br />
and Mr Michael Bryce; the Governor of New South Wales and Honorary Commodore, Her<br />
Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO and Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE; Chief of<br />
Defence Force, General David Hurley AC DSC and Mrs Hurley; and Chief of <strong>Navy</strong>, Vice<br />
Admiral Ray Griggs AM CSC RAN and Mrs Griggs. Her Excellency Marie Bashir penned the<br />
following words of appreciation:<br />
Warmest congratulations and deep appreciation for the memorable concert held to<br />
celebrate the Centenary of the <strong>Royal</strong> Assent which marked the independence of<br />
our <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> from it parental predecessors. Your splendid program<br />
conveyed the proud links, as well as the unique <strong>Australian</strong> character, and even<br />
some appropriate nostalgia which brought quiet tears to the eyes of those who<br />
may have recalled the darker days of World War II. The naval musicians were<br />
superb and kept the audience enthralled to the final note.<br />
<strong>Royal</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Band: A Musical Voyage