Freedom of Entry Celebrations

I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Royal Australian Navy Band Association Award, which will be presented annually to a member of the reserve component of the band who has been assessed as making an outstanding contribution towards the band’s operational effectiveness. The winner of this award will be selected to specifically acknowledge their direct contribution to encouraging good morale within the team; promoting a positive workplace atmosphere; enhancing a sense of esprit-de-corps throughout the Royal Australian Navy Band; and upholding Navy’s values of Honour, Honesty, Courage, Integrity and Loyalty. All members of the reserve component will be eligible for this award with the winner decided by the band’s Senior Leadership Group. The award will comprise a perpetual shield to be displayed in the winner’s detachment, a letter from the Director of Music and a crystal plaque. The inaugural recipient will be announced in December. On behalf of the current serving members I would like to state my thanks to the Royal Australian Navy Band Association for establishing this award and for the ongoing efforts to promote Navy in the wider community. The award was created to promote awareness of the Royal Australian Navy Band Association and to acknowledge the Reserve Component of the Royal Australian Navy Band. It provides a very good balance to the Kirsty Jones Award, which is presented, based on similar criteria, to a member of the Permanent Component. We said our farewells to Lieutenant Michelle Coleman earlier this year on her discharge from Navy due to ill health. I know that I speak with one voice when I say that we were privileged to have served with her and benefitted from her example of dedication, loyalty and professionalism. We wish her and her husband, Deane, best wishes for the journey ahead. Reflecting over the past six months, I am very proud of the way in which all of our musicians have performed their duties. Thanks to all for the sterling contribution to Navy and to the history of the Royal Australian Navy Band.

FREEDOM OF ENTRY CELEBRATIONS

Article by Leading Seaman Tracy Kennedy

On Friday 13 March 2009 the Royal Australian Navy conducted a Fleet Entry into Sydney Harbour followed by a Fleet Review. These two impressive occasions were to mark the conclusion of the Fleet Concentration Period; one of Navy’s largest annual exercises. The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir received a 21 gun salute from HMAS Sydney. There was also a hive of activity on Sydney harbour as musicians from the Sydney and Queensland detachments performed onboard public ferries and paraded at Fort Denison as ships and ferries sailed past. The following morning sailors from the 15 ships involved in the fleet entry and members from all detachments of the Navy Band gathered in the Rocks for the Freedom of Entry Parade through the City of Sydney. It was a great sight to see the permanent and reserve detachments from around Australia marching down George Street. It was a sea of white as over 4500 sailors stood ready to take part in this momentous event. The ceremony started with a Royal Salute as Her Excellency the Governor General Ms Quentin Bryce was received on parade. The Queen’s Colour was escorted by the Royal Guard for the first time in Sydney since it was presented by the Governor General in 1989. This was followed by Her Excellency the Governor General presenting the Gloucester cup to HMAS Parramatta. With the official proceedings completed, the parade was underway and our official march Royal Australian Navy could be heard through the city as we made our way to the saluting dais. Over 10,000 people lined the streets showing their support for the Royal Australian Navy and to witness such an historic occasion.