From the Director’s Desk

RAN BAND NEWS EDITION NUMBER 13 12 DECEMBER 2008

ON STAGE WITH THE PACIFIC FLEET BAND FOR ‘HANDS ACROSS THE SEA’

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

Another six months has flown by and the band and its story continue to impress. In addition to the many tasks within Australia, the band still had sufficient capacity to deploy a 34piece contingent to Tonga in July and to also embark an element in HMAS Tobruk for RIMPAC 2008. We were selected to represent Australia during the Coronation of King Tupou V and our musicians enjoyed a very successful few weeks in the Kingdom of Tonga. The sea deployment group also had an interesting and successful deployment. Two of our people have returned from an incredible experience with Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Service and one other participated in ANZAC Exchange. Other major events included the band’s contribution to celebrations marking the 100th Anniversary of the Great White Fleet and numerous memorial services around the nation for HMAS Sydney II. For the Sydney memorial services, I had the privilege of conducting the Western Australian detachment—supported by some members from the Sydney detachment—during the Sunset Ceremony and for the reburial of the unknown sailor in Geraldton. During these ceremonies I was reminded of the sacrifice given by the musicians who formed the band in Sydney and who perished along with 645 shipmates. It was indeed an honour to be involved in those memorial services: I also had opportunity to reflect upon the contribution made by those musicians to the proud story of the Royal Australian Navy Band. The band’s role in the Great White Fleet anniversary celebrations was significant and its level of performance standard was absolutely outstanding: I have never heard any band play better than what I witnessed on Friday evening 22 August for ‘Hands Across the Sea’ and on Sunday afternoon 24 August for ‘All Hands on Deck’. We established an award to honour the memory of, and as a dedication to, ex-Petty Officer Musician Kirsty Jones who inspired her subordinates and superiors through her personal qualities, positive attitude, and commitment and dedication to duty. I am pleased to announce that the inaugural recipient is Able Seaman Yoshinari Izumi from the Melbourne detachment.