- Author
- Greedy, Ashton W., AM, LRAM, DipMusMan, Commander, RAN
- Subjects
- History - general
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 1999 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In 1947 Bandmaster George Hooker was sent to England to undertake the RM Band Officers course and he became the first RAN Band Officer to be awarded the LRAM conducting diploma. He was promoted to Commissioned Bandmaster in 1949 and joined the aircraft carrier Sydney serving in her twice until the end of the Korean War. Sydney and her band also attended the Coronation Review at Spithead. Early in 1953, Australia was brought out of reserve and commissioned as Flagship and escort to SS Gothic which was acting as the Royal Yacht during the Commonwealth Royal Tour. On returning from the Coronation, Commissioned Bandmaster Hooker and a band of eighteen joined Australia to provide musical support for the first visit of a reigning Sovereign to Australia. This was the last duty for Australia prior to the scrap yard.
Gordon McLean returned to England in 1953 having given renewed direction to music-making in the RAN. George Hooker was promoted to Bandmaster Lieutenant and succeeded McLean as Director of Music, a position he was to hold from 1954 until his retirement in 1970. He was promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1957. These years were considered the halcyon days of the RAN Band Branch with bands serving at sea in Sydney, Melbourne and Vengeance and ashore in Cerberus, Penguin and Albatross. As the first Australian Band Officer, LCDR George Hooker is deservedly known as the `father’ of the RAN Band Branch and was awarded an MBE for his services. Now in his 85th year, he resides in Hawthorn, Vic.
Since the retirement of LCDR Hooker in 1970, six Band Officers have held the appointment of Director of Music RAN:
1970-75 – LCDR Don Coxon LRAM, RAN
1975-76 – LCDR Norm Gullick LRAM, RAN
1976-80 – LCDR Jim McDonough LRAM, RAN
1980-87 – LCDR Bill Farrell AM, LRAM, ARCM, RAN
1987-93 – LCDR Vic Knowles LRAM, LGSM, RAN
1993-to date – CMDR Ashley Greedy AM, LRAM, RAN
A change of Government in the early seventies saw the end of the Bands at HMAS Albatross and in HMAS Sydney with only Melbourne, Cerberus and Penguin remaining, and the category reducing from around 150 to 100. When Melbourne went in 1982, the Fleet Band followed the ‘flag’ serving in Jervis Bay, Tobruk and Stalwart. Small musical ensembles would later deploy with Success, Torrens and Hobart. Ashore, changes were being made as well. Defence decided a joint School of Music would replace aging schools in both Cerberus and Army’s Balcombe. In 1984 the Defence Force School of Music (DFSM) was opened at Army’s Simpson Barracks Watsonia Vic and would include all basic and promotion training including Officers. This broke a long-standing relationship with the Royal Marines which had seen seven RM Officers lent to the RAN and twelve RAN Senior Sailor Musicians trained in the UK. Women were admitted to the RAN Bands in 1986 and added a new dimension to the skills, variety, appeal and appearance of Navy’s Bands. Women fill one-third of all RAN Musicians billets and one-quarter of all Musicians hold a tertiary degree or better!
Between 1991-92 the Cerberus Band was relocated to Lonsdale to alleviate the tyranny of distance to the city. The best of intentions collapsed when Lonsdale was closed soon after, so, back to Cerberus! This was similar to Sydney based bands’ experiences, having been shunted between Watson, Waterhen, Rushcutter Penguin and now, Kuttabul. The Southern Cross Cinema at Cerberus has been refurbished to include a spectacular Band rehearsal area but, alas, the Sydney Band remains nomadic and still looking for a permanent purpose-built facility. The Fleet Band and the Penguin Band were co-located in 1994 and now form the RAN Band – Sydney. Similarly Cerberus Band is now the RAN Band – Melbourne. Between them, the PNF and the Reserve Bands located in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth, cover all Fleet and Establishment support.
Each of the Directors of Music has guided significant change and instigated RAN Band participation in some of this country’s most memorable occasions. The events worldwide, in which the Bands have been involved, would fill a book on their own. They include: three Spithead Reviews, two Papal visits, 1956 Olympic Games, 1962 Empire Games Perth, Disneyland and Canada 1967, Expo ’70 Japan, Concert Tour Vietnam 1970, Silver Jubilee Cruise UK 1977, Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982, China 1984, Royal Tournament London 1987, International Marching Band Pageant Tokyo 1988, Australian Bicentennial 1988, Gallipoli 1990, Borneo 1995, Adelaide Military Tattoo 1995, Brisbane Military Tattoo 1996 and the Philippines Independence Centenary 1998. Combine these with numerous football, tennis, soccer, cricket, swimming and athletics finals. Add countless school, Senior Citizen and community performances. Blend these into the endless Service requirements of Balls, Commissionings, Church Services, Funerals. Beat to Quarters, Sunset Ceremonies, Mess Dinners. Cocktail Parties, Divisions, Graduations, Navy Weeks, Open Days, Freedom of Entry Parades, Recruiting Tours and Public Relations activities, and you have a broad guide to the range of activities which typify life in the RAN Band. Additionally, since the forties, the RAN Band has recorded 28 albums with many of Australia’s top composers and performers including Don Burrows, Tommy Tycho, Eric Jupp and the ABC’s Brian May. Such is the standing of one of the world’s leading military bands!