All Hands on Deck

Three other commissioning and decommissioning ceremonies followed in the next few months and each of those continued to demonstrate a high level of cooperation and achievement between the various detachments. Of course, there were the usual Navy Week tasks in other locations and each detachment has a very busy schedule to contend with locally. This has been the busiest period in recent memory and the results and effort by all of our people has been truly remarkable. That level of achievement combined with a high profile and strong contribution to Navy over the last four years, has been acknowledged with good funding support and a number of Flag Officer Commendations. There are many amongst our team worthy of commendation and I was particularly pleased to see a number of commendations recently awarded to our musicians by the Australian Navy Systems Commander. Commodore Peter Jones presented five commendations to members of the Sydney detachment (at HMAS Creswell) and at the same time, I presented another commendation on his behalf to a member in the Melbourne detachment. These commendations acknowledge a lot of hard work; but in particular, a strong and sustained contribution by the recipients across a number of areas of performance. In recent years, each of these members has served at sea and on operations, and each has contributed beyond their primary role: this adds significant value, capability and flexibility to the band. I join the Systems Commander in saluting Chief Petty Officer Andrew Stapleton, Petty Officer Camille Smith, Leading Seaman Jason Beach, Able Seaman Tracy Burke, Able Seaman Andrew Hansch, and Able Seaman Kirstin Paynter on their achievements. They have brought much credit to themselves and Navy. Merry Christmas, travel safe, recharge the batteries and thank you for your contribution to the Navy Band, ‘one of Australia’s premiere military ensembles’.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Article by Lieutenant Andrew Stokes, RAN

The Royal Australian Navy Band, in company with some of the best bands from around the world, participated in the Brunei International Tattoo 2006 (BIT 2006) in July and August this year. This special event marked the 60th birthday celebrations for His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Other countries involved in the tattoo were Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, Jordan and Vietnam. Prior to the tattoo performances the participants split up and headed out into the regional areas of Brunei for the BIT 2006 ‘Road Show’. One group went to Tutong and another to the Belait district. The Australian contingent, along with the participants from Thailand, Vietnam and Oman, boarded a ferry for a two-hour trip through dense tropical rainforest along the Temburong River to Temburong. The people of Temburong were delighted by the arrival of the BIT 2006 Road Show. They lined the waterfront and cheered as the ferry pulled up in the midst of their Water Carnival. After some light refreshments, the Road Show participants commenced a street march from the District Office to Bangar Town’s Commercial Area where they performed a selection of music drawn from the tattoo as separate contingents and as a massed band. Following the performance, all contingents were treated to lunch and a cultural show at Sultan Hasan Primary School before returning to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. After the highly successful Road Show performances, all contingents congregated for a ‘Grand Parade’ through the streets of the capital. There was an air of excitement as thousands of people were treated with a sneak preview of the upcoming tattoo. The Grand Parade ended in spectacular fashion as all bands joined to perform four songs from the tattoo’s finale. With the Road Show and Grand Parade completed, there was anticipation among the public that a great show to be held at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium was on the way – and it did not disappoint.