From the PR Desk

Contained in this edition of RAN Band News is a copy of the Defence Paper by Lieutenant Andrew Stokes titled People, Performance & Professionalism: How Navy’s Signature Behaviours will manage a ‘New generation’ of Sailors. This is a thoroughly researched essay that provides a timely reminder of other initiatives occurring throughout Navy at the moment, and is worth a good read. Late last year, the Navy Reserve Whole-of-Capability Workforce Review (NR WOCWR) was established to support the challenges of Chief of Navy’s intent outlined in The Navy Strategic Plan. One of the issues faced by the review was the significant and growing demand being placed on the national reserve salary budget. The band contributed to that demand with a 60 percent increase in its salary allocation during the course of the last five years; and this is no longer sustainable. The NR WOCWR delivered a reduction to the total number of days available for reserves across Navy; and I was required to redistribute the band’s allocation to meet priorities across our national program. A new business model has been developed to meet those challenges and to enable the band to continue to deliver appropriate musical services to Navy and sustain its future capability. For a number of years now the New South Wales detachment has not been able to operate without the support of musicians from the full-time Sydney detachment. Furthermore, the type and volume of activities normally undertaken by the New South Wales detachment has steadily decreased and other priorities have now emerged that require new ways to deliver our musical services. From 1 July, members of the New South Wales detachment commenced fulfilling their duties as members of a Reserve Support Element embedded within the Sydney detachment. A separate Reserve Support Element was also established in the Melbourne detachment. This structural change was foreshadowed by me last year and became imperative due to the outcomes of the NR WOCWR. As a consequence of the changes to the New South Wales detachment, I invited Petty Officer Dennis Mercer to prepare an article for this edition of RAN Band News. In his article, he gives a very good account of the contribution made by reserve musicians to Navy activities in the Sydney area since the 1960s; and there have certainly been many good achievements. Change, however, was inevitable as the detachment was no longer viable; but I wish to stress that there is no intent to reduce the role played by reserve musicians in Sydney or at any level within the Navy Band. I believe that the most effective way in which to utilise the skills of Navy’s Sydney based musicians is as a fully integrated force. Reserves musicians will continue to be used to support Navy activities within Sydney and throughout Australia, and will maintain their important role within the Navy Band. I also invited the Secretary of the RAN Band Association, Mr Ralph Daines, to submit a report on the association’s visit to Singapore in support of Anzac Day ceremonies. For many years now I have referred to the RAN Band Association as a valuable additional detachment in the Navy Band’s capability suite. Our veteran musicians demonstrated their past record of service very proudly whilst in Singapore, and produced a highly commendable outcome that reflects well, not only on them, but also on the Royal Australian Navy Band.

FROM THE PR DESK

Article by Leading Seaman Tracy Kennedy

The year began with Australia Day activities, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Sea Power Conference. The Closing and Opening ceremonies for the Sea Power Conference were certainly met with great enthusiasm and appreciation from all guests including the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane AO, CSM, RAN and other important dignitaries. After the closing ceremony we headed to the Novotel in Darling Harbour to play for the Vice Admiral Crane’s guests at a private event. From the balcony of the function room we had a great view of the Australia Day fireworks and could see our drummers on top of the floating towers in the middle of the Darling Harbour. We then went straight into rehearsals, and a week of performances for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Apart from one night where the weather stopped us from using microphones on the field, the show ran smoothly. This year the Royal Australian Air Force Band was in charge of the Australian Defence Force segment.