The Duntroon Bugle

2From the Podium

THE BUGLE CALLS:

FROM THE EDITOR6Down the

Track

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3New Faces

ISSUE 37 FEBRUARY 2013

Snapshot

Hot Stuff

Welcome to 2013 and the 37th issue of the Duntroon Bugle. We hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas and a happy new year. The Band of the Royal Military College enjoyed their break and are all looking forward to another busy year. The year began with the traditional Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony held at Rond Terrace on the banks of Lake Burley-Griffin. Check out some photos from the event in our Snapshot segment on page five.

As is always the case with the first newsletter of the year, we introduce the new members of RMC Band who are joining us on posting. We also hear from the Second in Command and Deputy Musical Director, Captain Nigel Davy, who will be moving to Adelaide to take command of his first band in the near future. More news about that in his final From the Podium.

The new Public Affairs team, headed up by Sergeant Bjorn Pfeiffer, is looking forward to keeping you updated on all RMC Band’s public performances throughout the year. We will introduce the team in the next copy of The Duntroon Bugle.

Until then, we hope to see you in the Canberra Theatre next Tuesday for the first Music At Midday concerts of the year, and don’t forget to check out Down the Track on page six so you don’t miss any of our gigs over the next two months. Enjoy!

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FROM THE PODIUMHello once again and welcome to what will be my last contribution to The Duntroon Bugle. As with all things in the Army it is time for me to move on. At the end of March I will take up the position of Music Director of Australian Army Band Adelaide. This will be a home posting for me and one that my wife is more than happy about! I served in this band in the 1980s when it was a regular band and also from 1999 when it was a reserve band. To be returning as the boss is a real challenge and honour that I look forward to.

In July 2011, I  arrived at RMC only to farewell the band as they departed for the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland! It was a trip I would have loved to have experienced; unfortunately I now have to listen the band telling me how great it was, for ever and ever. At the end of last year, Corporal Tim McCabe and I were lucky enough to be part of a Forces Entertainment Tour to Egypt. The article on page five explains how hard we both worked! With all the political turmoil in Cairo at the time, we were fortunate to see the Great Pyramids. How they built them, I have no idea!

My role in the band has been to understudy the boss and learn as much as I can. It has been a steep learning curve since the day I arrived and at times it felt like the courses would never end! I would like to thank all the members of the band for being a great bunch to work with, in particular the support, knowledge and guidance I have received from the senior ranks making my job easier to understand.

Finally, I am grateful to Major Hiscock for the opportunities he has given me to conduct RMC Band. It is a hard thing to put into words the feeling you get standing in front of such a fine band. My role here has been rewarding and I have many great memories to take with me, but for now, it’s onwards and upwards!

Thanks,

Nigel

Captain Nigel Davy writing from his new podium in front of the pyramids of Eygpt.

THE DUNTROON BUGLE

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NEw FacEs

Lance Corporal Elspeth Mcgregor is another familiar face within RMC Band. She has returned after a two year posting to Australian Army Band Sydney. Elspeth is excited to be back in Canberra as both her and her partner grew up and have family in the area. In her spare time, Elspeth is a passionte Rugby Union supporter and she is looking forward to cheering on the ACT Brumbies at their home games this year.

Lance Corporal Ben Bonney enlisted in the Australian Army in 2008 and has enjoyed the last four years with the Band of the First Battalion in Townsville. Ben says he is looking forward to the cold Canberra climate. We bet he won’t say that in July. He also enjoys fishing and camping. Ben is looking forward to working within RMC Band’s trumpet section, most of all to fulfill his life long dream to work with Musician Jono Apps.

Lance Corporal Julian Fung joins us on saxophone from Australian Army Band Sydney. He enlisted in the Army in 2002 and has had previous postings to Brisbane and Kapooka. While in Sydney, Julian also continued his studies in jazz performance. Julian enjoys martial arts, jazz and cooking. Julian grew up in Canberra and is looking forward to spending time with his family and friends while he is posted here.

Corporal Susan Waterman is a familiar face to those who have followed the band for a while. She spent 11 years here in a previous posting before moving to Brisbane five years ago. Susan is happy to be back in Canberra and looking forward to playing in a full size military band again. Outside of work, she enjoys darts and roller skating.

Corporal Josephine Smith grew up in Tasmania and joined the Army as a reservist with Australian Army Band Tasmania. She moved to a full time role in Brisbane in 2009 and has also spent time in Sydney. Josephine is looking forward to her posting in Canberra so she can spend less time in traffic. In the winter, she is looking forward to spending some time in the snow, and more importanly learning how to ski.

Corporal Steve Carter comes to us from the Australian Army Band Melbourne where he has spent the previous three years. This is his third posting to RMC Band where he has already served 12 years. Steve enjoys playing and listening to a broad range of music but his main interest is in jazz and latin music. Steve is delighted to return to Canberra to renew old acquaintances and to be with his partner Kristen.

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Musician Jaiden Redman posts in from Australian Army Band Brisbane. He has previously served as a reservist in Austalian Army Band Newcastle. Jaiden enjoys tennis, photography, 4WD adventures, fishing and camping. Jaiden and his fiancee, Emma, are looking forward to exploring the sights and camping spots around Canberra.

Musician Mark Nivet is a new face to both the Australian Army and RMC Band. Before joining the band, Mark spent the past 15 years working in the United States and Canada. Fresh from performing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as part of the Australian Defence Force Band, he joins us as resident vocalist. In his time outside of work, Mark enjoys swimming, tennis and long trips to the beach.

REwiREdSergeant Phil Johansen and his wife, Corporal Sheree Johansen, will be leaving us in March to start a new adventure. Phil will be changing trades within the Army and moving to the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Sheree will remain on leave to look after their young son, Aiden. We wish both Phil and Sheree all the best for the future.

NEw FacEs

Phil and Sheree prepare to return their instruments and red jackets to the Q Store!

Although already posted to RMC Band for a year, Musician Jacquelyn Broomhead is being welcomed with the other new faces of the band having jsut completed 12 months maternity leave. Jacquelyn brings to Canberra her husband, Paul, who is also a reserve flautist with RMC Band. Her interests include cooking, watching movies and spending time with her family. Jacqui and Paul look forward to joining the cycling community of Canberra once they get around to fixing their bikes!

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THE DUNTROON BUGLE

In December 2012, Captain Nigel Davy and Corporal Tim McCabe travelled to the Sinai Desert, Egypt, as part of a Forces Entertainment Tour. The pair served as technical support for a number of civilian entertainers, including Brisbane band Cherry, Sydney duo Diesel and the Girl, and comedian Lehmo. They performed two concerts in the Sinai at the MFO (Multi-national Forces and Observers) base, where 25 Australians currently serve. On the way home, the pair also visited a base in Dubai, where they joined forces with members of the RAAF Band and entertainers from the Afghanistan Forces Entertainment Tour to perform for over 200 Australian troops who were about to return home after months away. Both members enjoyed their trip, with the highlight being a camel/horse ride around the Pyramids.

Into the SInaI

Right: Captain Nigel Davy and Corporal Tim McCabe hunt for Pharoah treasure at the ancient pyramids of Egypt.

Photo by Corporal Mark Doran

Here are some photos from a handful of the tasks the RMC Band has completed in the past couple of months.sNaPsHOT

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A large number of the Band’s tasking include engagements at: Government House, Parliament House, The Royal Military College, Blamey Square and for a variety of

organisations in the Canberra region. Our forecast public program is below.

Down the Track

BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BAND

If you have received this newsletter then you probably already are one, but if you know someone else who would like to become a friend, here’s what they should do:

Simply email us at:

RMCband.publicaffairs@defence.gov.au

or fill in one of our yellow flyers when you come to Music at Midday.

If you no longer wish to receive these updates or if you are changing your email address, please let us know so

that we can amend our records.

Public Affairs CellRMC BandP.O. Box 7915CANBERRA BC ACT 2610

Phone: +61 2 6265 9392Fax: +61 2 6265 9486RMCband.publicaffairs@defence.gov.au

FEBRUARY 12

Music At Midday

Canberra Theatre

11am and 12.30pm

MARCH 20

ACT Chief Minister’s

Concert

Erindale Vikings Club

10.30am and 1.30pm

MARCH 23

Sir william Hudson

Memorial Centre Concert

Cooma Multi-Function

Centre

2 pm

MARCH 24

Batemans Bay Rotary

Concert

Batemans Bay High

2pm

APRIL 6

Beat Retreat Parade

1812 Concert

Australian war Memorial

6.00pm

APRIL 16

Music At Midday

Canberra Theatre

11am and 12.30pm