Northern Trident (Second Leg

I recently announced the names of the 17 musicians selected to form the Navy Band contingent for the Gallipoli Pilgrimage at Anzac Cove in 2010 and the 45 musicians who will participate in the Edinburg Military Tattoo in Sydney in February 2010. I was very please to be able to include a mix of permanent and reserve musicians in these key opportunities. I also announced the names of the 20 musicians earmarked for the Sea Deployment Group during 2010. These musicians will embark in HMA Ships Newcastle and Kanimbla for Exercise RIMPAC 2010, and will have a mix of additional roles including as members of the Ship’s Medical Emergency Teams and Flight Deck Teams. The musicians embarked in Newcastle will also visit Japan and Canada. I am acutely aware that these sea deployments are not high within the set of needs and aspiration of our people. However, the Sea Deployment Group continues to form a key component of our contribution to Navy and future as an organisation. I remain grateful to all of the musicians (80% of the permanent force) who have now served at sea, as well as to the 20 who will deploy next year; and I wish them the best of good luck for a safe and positive experience at sea. There can be no doubt that, despite the ever-present budgetary challenges, we continue to deliver very effective and efficient services: I believe that our band has given Navy its best effort. I am also convinced that through our very experienced group of officers and senior sailors, we have delivered our people a very high level of professional care and support. I know that there is likely to be a mix of views on my assertion in relation to output and professional care; but I see the constant flow of requests for periods of absences from workplace duties that are supported by the senior leaders along with the volumes of letters of appreciation and positive feedback. So I can confidently state that we are doing our very best to balance the needs of one and other with the requirements of Navy. Our band holds a strong position of trust and esteem within Navy, Defence and the wider community; and this has not been achieved by goodwill alone or the collective efforts of each detachment. In particular, I wish to acknowledge our four Lieutenant Band Officers who are moving to other positions within the band next year. Lieutenant Commander Paul Cottier is posting back to the Defence Force School of Music, Lieutenant Steven Stanke is moving to the Sydney detachment, Lieutenant Andrew Stokes is back to the Assistant Director’s position and Lieutenant Matthew Klohs is off to the Melbourne detachment. Each of them has provided forthright advice and feedback to me and fulfilled their responsibilities in a highly commendable and professional manner. They deserve our collective vote of thanks. To each and everyone; thank you for the valuable contribution that you make in telling the story of the Navy Band and continuing the band’s proud record of service to the nation.

NORTHERN TRIDENT (SECOND LEG)

Article by Able Seaman Paul Parnell

As part of a crew change out half-way through Northern Trident 2009, I departed Sydney with Leading Seaman Lachlan Macfie, Able Seaman Chris Ellis and Able Seaman Volka Schoeler in company with around forty other sailor’s bound for Nova Scotia. While our C130 Hercules transport was not what we had originally in mind, the five-day journey over the Pacific Ocean gave us ample time to bond with the new crew as we enjoyed leisurely stop-over’s in West Samoa, Hawaii, and the massive Travis Air Force Base in California. Our ‘bugler’s holiday’ was soon to end after a day of time zone recovery in Halifax, when we reunited with our musician colleagues who were already embarked in HMAS Sydney. After two long days of settling into messes and getting up to speed on FFG damage control, we soon found our way to what would be the our most utilised areas; the galley, starboard hanger, and the smokers pit on 02 Deck! Once underway, it was only two sleeps until we were sailing into New York to our dock near 46th Street, Manhattan, in company with HMAS Ballarat and USS Mahan. The entry was truly magnificent; the Statue of Liberty and ceremonial tugboats set a colourful back drop for the rock band as we played through a variety of iconic Aussie hits on the fo’c’sle. The importance of our mission was soon apparent when guests from the United Nations Headquarters, Military officials, and various International Ambassadors were ushered aboard. Our first gig in New York City was the first of many high level cocktail parties and Beat to Quarters events during our part of the deployment.