From the Director’s Desk

RAN BAND NEWS EDITION NUMBER 11 11 DECEMBER 2007

BEAT TO QUARTERS IN SHANGHAI FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

The history of the Navy Band has continued to develop at full pace, and its record of service is no where more clearly demonstrated than in this edition of RAN Band News. We have the usual stories of, what seems like, our routine work and engagement within the Australian community: it may be routine; but in the Australian Defence Force we are recognised as delivering a very high level of service and standard of product for Navy. Also in this edition are stories about our work in support of ship Commissioning Ceremonies and Welcome Home Ceremonies: our leading role in these ceremonies ensures Nation best outcomes. However, personal highlights for me are the stories from our embarked musicians, and the four Commanding Officer Commendations that have been included in this edition that clearly articulate the quality of our people. Over the past six months we embarked musicians in three Major Fleet Units, deployed a musical team to the Solomon Islands in support of a Forces Advisory Council of Entertainment (FACE) tour, and still managed to do our usual business within and around the Nation. Feedback that I have received about the contribution made by our people to these sea deployments and to FACE activities has been superb and demonstrates the significant level of additional capability that these small music elements provide to these important overseas missions.