Royal Australian Navy Band Association

The RAN Band Association will turn 10 mid-2003. From humble beginnings, we have grown into a most successful Ex-Service Organisation, envied by many associations catering for ex-Naval personnel.

Although not in the same league as the Communicators Association, or the Fleet Air Arm Association numbers-wise, we can be justifiably proud of our financial membership (216 at December 02) considering we were one of the smallest branches of the RAN.

Back in May 1990 the Director of Music - Navy, LCDR Vic Knowles RAN invited Jim Hawkins to compile a column for the Navy produced and distributed newsletter, 'Royal Australian Navy Band News' which was distributed twice each year.

This meant chasing up retired musicians and writing stories about their present whereabouts, occupations, interests etc. The column was published under the title 'EX-PRESS'.

Unfortunately, the RAN from then on went through a phase of cost-cutting with man-power and finances, to the point where new DOM-Navy, LCDR Ashley Greedy RAN found he had fewer people and less money to work with, so the band newsletter was one of the first items to suffer. Distribution became very haphazard to the point that in early 1993 it had been 18 months between newsletters.

Three former POMUSN's, Rob Bedwell, Ron Henry and Jim Hawkins discussed the situation, because Jim was receiving phone calls asking where the newsletter was, and obviously a civilian had no control over Navy produced magazines. They formed a steering committee, borrowed the Navy name & address list, and following some money being put into a kitty, mailed a very brief newsletter asking Ex's to join an association for the modest sum of $7 per year. This would allow 3 issues of a newsletter, and the organisation of 2 yearly National reunions.

The response was excellent, with nearly 200 signing up, and a general meeting was called for the following year during a reunion to be held at the Surfers Paradise RSL Club on 9th July 1994.

The steering committee was returned for the next two years, with a meeting planned for Melbourne in 1996. In addition to Rob, Ron and Jim, Jim Stathis was elected Vice-President.

The Melbourne reunion also included a visit to CERBERUS where the long-awaited stained glass window was dedicated at St Marks Chapel, and another change in the committee took place. Ron MacKenzie was elected Vice-President.

1998 saw Eastern Staters travel across the Nullabor to the Fremantle Navy Club, then to HMAS STIRLING, Rockingham for a Memorial Service to remember the Band from HMAS SYDNEY (2) who lost their lives when that ship was lost with all hands. Another committee change took place when Norm Gullick was elected President. During these reunions we were lucky to gain the services of the Queensland Naval Band (Surfers), RAN Band - Melbourne (Melbourne) and the WA Naval Band (Fremantle). As usual, a few of the 'old & bold' got out their trusty instruments on each occasion and had a 'blow'.

The year 2000 was to be something special. For 50 years, Bandies had spoken about meeting on the Man O' War steps, Sydney, at midnight on 31/12/99. As this was impossible because of the Sydney celebrations, and the expected crowds of more than 1.5 million people, a reunion was organised for the Anzac Day long weekend.

Following the Melbourne reunion, President Rob Bedwell had published a list of those who attended, and placed them in a parade band formation in the newsletter, with the caption..."Wouldn't this be a great sound".

Secretary Jim Hawkins took this idea a little further and asked members if they would be interested in forming a parade band to march in the Sydney Anzac Day parade. The enthusiasm surprised everyone, and after much organising, a band of 75 members proudly marched within the Naval Association contingent, with our Patron LCDR George Hooker MBE, RAN (Rtd) out front. Two drummers, Rob Himbury and Ron Bergman dressed in the two uniforms we have worn (old and new rig) and marched on the flanks of the front rank.

With such interest, the Victorians decided to host a parade band for the Melbourne Anzac Day March in 2001, and some 40 musicians took part.

2002 saw a band of similar size march in Nowra on Anzac Day, with plans for Ballina (NSW) in 2003, Hobart (2004) and possibly Perth (2005) ........'Age shall not weary them!!!!!'

Our 2002 National Reunion took place in Brisbane, with yet another committee change. Norm Gullick reluctantly resigned for family reasons, and Tasmanian Brian Ellis took up the job of leading the RAN Band Association.

Instead of a parade band 'blow', it was decided to have a sit-down concert band 'blow' at Bulimba Barracks, with guest conductors. This was also a resounding success followed by a bar-b-que in the SGTS Mess.

Since this Association began, merchandise has been popular with members, buying thousands of dollars worth of shirts, t-shirts, embroidered patches, carrier-crew metal badges, metal lapel pins, caps, videos, CD's, and we actually had an auction at the Sydney reunion for several old Navy Band records donated on the day.

A 42 page newsletter including photos is distributed every February, May, August and November to financial members.


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