From the Director’s Desk

Many books have been written over the years to try to come to terms with how and why the Sydney sank. The Finding Sydney Foundation, a not for profit group, was established in July 2001 with the intention of finding the location of HMAS Sydney II and to honour all those that had been lost in her. The Directors for the foundation were Ted Graham, Commodore Bob Trotter RAN (retired), Don Pridmore, Keith Rowe and Glenys McDonald AM JP. An active search with the help of shipwreck investigator David Mearns onboard the SV Geosounder, began on 29 February 2008. For the many remaining relatives and friends, the successful outcome of this large undertaking would be an opportunity to put to rest their unanswered questions and perhaps gain some closure. On Wednesday 12 March 2008, an image appeared on the sonar screen of the search vessel SV Geosounder. 26° 05' 49.4" S 111° 04' 27.5" E Approximately 207km from the west coast (Steep Point) of Western Australia, at a depth of approximately 2,560 metres, the location of the HSK Kormoran was discovered. This exciting revelation meant that Sydney must be close by, and the months of searching would perhaps soon have a successful end. On Wednesday 16 March 2008, at the location of 26° 14’ 37” S 111° 13’ 03” E, and a depth of approximately 2,468 metres, HMAS Sydney Its hiding spot was finally revealed as a sonar image on the computers of the Geosounder. On Thursday 17 March 2008, the Prime Minister, Honourable Kevin Rudd, together with the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Honorable Warren Snowdon, MP, Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders, Chief of Navy and Mr Ted Graham, Chairman of The Finding Sydney Foundation, made the historic announcement the HMAS Sydney II had been discovered. By Thursday 3 April, the first images of Sydney were being taken and delivered to the world. A National Memorial Service to commemorate the Ship’s Company of HMAS Sydney II who lost their lives was held on Thursday 24 April 2008 at St Andrew’s Cathedral. Over 1200 people attended the memorial service, which included almost 1000 relative of the Sydney II crew members. The Sydney detachment supported the occasion with the wind orchestra, ceremonial fanfare team with buglers and the Sea Chanter’s chorus. The bugle players Able Seaman Marcus Salone and Able Seaman Chris Ellis held the Navy Bands military drums that have a battle honours roll displayed of band members lost in the line of service, and performed on bugles that have been dedicated to band members who were on board HMAS Sydney II at the time of its sinking. The service was broadcast live by the ABC, and repeated a short time later on the Sky New Channel. The anniversary of the sinking would indeed be an extra special occasion with its 67th year being celebrated this year on Wednesday 19 November. Memorial services were attended around the country, with the Royal Australian Navy Band being in attendance for number of the services. The Sydney detachment supported services at the Sydney Cenotaph in Martin Place and the Canberra War Memorial. The Melbourne detachment attended a service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, and the Queensland detachment attended a Brisbane commemorative service at the Shrine of Remembrance in ANZAC Square. A small element of the Sydney detachment also travelled to Geraldton to supplement numbers of the Western Australian detachment. The first commitment for the group was to attend a service for the burial of the unknown sailor, held at Queens Park and attended by about 150 people. The sailor believed to be the only crew member of HMAS Sydney II was found in a life raft on the shores of Christmas Island in February 1942. DNA testing has ruled out 15 of a possible 16 identifications, the last test is currently being investigated. The unknown sailor has become a symbol for all those who lost family and friend on the Sydney. His remains were laid to rest at the Geraldton War Cemetery. After a brief ceremony including the reading of the Naval Ode and a rendition of The Last Post, a rifle salute rang out as the coffin was lowered. A Commemorative Sunset Service was held at the HMAS Sydney II Memorial at Mt Scott Park. Known as the ‘dome of souls’, the memorial was created by Joan Walsh-Smith in collaboration with the Rotary Club Geraldton, and is certainly an impressive and well thought out structure. It was on 19 November 1998, during the dedication of the HMAS Sydney memorial site that a large flock of silver seagulls flew in formation above the crowd.

Knowing the story of seagulls representing the souls of sailors, Joan designed the dome to incorporate 645 stainless steel seagulls to represent each of the men who lost their lives. The seven pillars holding the dome represent each of the states and one territory. Hanging from the top of the dome is an anchor, which is Sydney’s crest, with port and starboard lights. An honour roll of all 645 names is written across two walls, and a wavy line on the top of the wall represents the sailors laying to rest under the ‘sea’. The stele represents the bow of the ship, and a waiting woman, with an anchor on her necklace and dressed in the clothes of the 40s, looks out to the ocean. She represents all of the wives, mothers and daughters waiting for their men to return from sea. The garden beds surrounding the site have been planted with rosemary, for remembrance, and red roses representing blood. Even bollards on the path leading to the dome have significance as they were the last ones at the old Geraldton wharf Sydney tied up to before her fatal end. The Commemorative Sunset Service attended by thousands of people was made up of family members of the crew, dignitaries and state and federal politicians. Amongst the attendees were Governor General Quentin Bryce, and Glenys McDonald who both gave moving speeches. On the command for the Catafalque Party to take post, the slow march to the dome was accompanied by drums and bugle call performed by Chief Petty Officer Andrew Stapleton. This new bugle call was conceived at rehearsals the day before between both the Director of Music and Chief Stapleton. The bugle call, only consisting of three notes, was created as a dedication to those who had lost their lives on Sydney. The bugle that was performed on by Chief Stapleton has been engraved with the name of Vincent Warren, one of 12 band members who lost their lives on 19 November 1941. It is highly likely that the musicians would have been deep below the decks in the operations room if the ship was closed up for action stations. The moving call set the solemn mood for the rest of the ceremony which included the laying of the wreaths, with all 645 names being read out, performance of the Naval hymn and the Last Post and Reveille, finally finishing with the National Anthem and a fly past by RAAF aircraft. Also on Wednesday, a group of 280 family members attended an at-sea service held at the wreckage site on board HMAS Manoora. Also present during the ceremony was the guided missile frigate, HMAS Sydney, the fourth Australian ship to carry the Sydney name. Band member Able Seaman Ashley Markey had the honour of playing the Last Post and Reveille for the service. This significant event in naval history is one that will always be remembered. The subsequent memorial services to recognise the resting place of Sydney to not only remember but also honour all those who bravely served on her, is an occasion that members of the Royal Australian Navy Band can be proud of being apart of. Research compiled from: www.findingsydney.com www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_SYDNEY_(II) www.museum.wa.gov.au www.2australia.gov.au

RAN BAND NEWS EDITION NUMBER 14 31 JULY 2009

MELBOURNE, SYDNEY AND QUEENSLAND DETACHMENTS COMBINE FOR THE FLEET REVIEW FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

As I have stated in previous editions of RAN Band News, ‘the history of the Navy Band develops at full pace’, and its record of service continues to be told in this edition. Over the past six months we conducted a ‘direct to air’ broadcast, supported the Navy Freedom of Entry through Sydney with more than 120 musicians, released our chamber recording The Commodores, deployed eight musicians to sea in HMAS Sydney, and supported a number of Ship Farewell and Welcome Home Ceremonies. We also deployed a small technical team to the Solomon Islands, and two of our people were selected for LONGLOOK exchange with Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Service. Throughout all of this activity we still managed to do our usual business within and around the Nation. The ‘direct to air’ broadcast on 1 March on ABC Classic FM reached more than 700,000 people and inspired the musicians with an exciting and challenging music program. The band’s contribution to Ship Farewell and Welcome Home Ceremonies continues to deliver a strong sense of national and naval pride to those occasions: it’s hard to imagine what those important ceremonies would be like without the Navy Band. We regularly bring volumes of good news stories to Navy and our people are, without exception, very positive ambassadors. The level of goodwill generated within Navy towards the Navy Band has been significant; however, Navy faces significant financial and structural challenges. Let’s hope that we will be able to continue to generate many more ‘good news’ stories under the New Generation Navy banner. I will be doing my best on your behalf to secure the best outcome possible in the current and future environment.