New Zealand Army Band Powles Road Burnham Military Camp Burnham 7600

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Esprit de CorpsNEW ZEALAND ARMY BAND NEWSLETTER

Issue 1 May 2017ISSN: 2382-1809

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Kia Ora, and welcome to the first edition of Esprit de Corps for 2017What a few months it has been since the last issue!! For me personally it was dominated with a course which you can read about in the following pages.The band has, as always, been pretty busy as you will see in this bumper addition of EDC. On top of this we have also performed at two balls (one for 2nd/1st Battalion and one for the Paramedics conference), A week of Christmas Cheer, March out Parades, Beating Retreat ceremony in Burnham, and Anzac day services all around New Zealand and the world. At the time of writing this article the band is in the midst of recording a CD of contemporary New Zealand brass band music for release next year, and late last year we recorded a CD of Christmas Music that will be released in the next few months (more info to come on this later in the year, but as a warning order it will be a great stocking filler!!)

Sadly, we have had some farewells during this period. Jason Shortland left us late last year to spend more time with family and fishing. Kyle Lawson has started a Music degree at Victoria University in Wellington. Vaea Peterson has left us to continue his Sports Degree at Canterbury University and Sgt Hewson is leaving us to pursue a career within the New Zealand court service. On behalf of all current and past members we wish you all the best and thank you for your service. Kyle, Callum and Vaea have all transferred to the reserve force so I’m sure that we will work with all of you again.

On the plus side of the ledger, we welcome Cameron Burnett into our percussion section. Cameron has a degree in performance music and has already proven to be a highly valued member of the unit. We also welcome into the unit, from Blenheim, Sam Powell on Cornet and, yet another Australian, Tom Oldham on tenor horn. Welcome guys and we look forward to working with you! We also welcome back CPL Patrick McCarthy after transferring from our Reserve Force back into the unit as a Regular Force musician. Great to have you back, Paddy.

In this issuePg 4: New Zealand Brass Band

Championships, WellingtonPg 5: Canterbury Earthquake

National Memorial opening Governor General Garden

PartyPg 6: JNCO CoursePg 6-8: Three Sheets to the Wind!Pg 8-9: The Thomas Cooke VC

Memorial Royal Honours Board

Pg 9: The National Youth Brass BandPg 10: Military Training Pg 11-12: Linton and OCS 2016Pg 12: ResurgamPg 13: All Corps RF SNCO

Course 17/01Pg 14: Band SolosPg 15: Hokitika Wild Food

Festival Tour World Bowls Championships

Opening CeremonyPg 16: A Day in the Life ...

Marketing Cell IC: Sgt Kevin Hickman

Social Media & 2IC: LCpl Cameron Lee

Marketing Assistants: Pte Georgia Hoy LCpl Campbell McKellar Pte Jordan Seaton Pte David Froom Pte Hayden Cullen

Newsletter Editor: Sgt Kevin Hickman

Front Cover: Major G.R. Hickman, DSD.

Like us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/TheNZArmyBand

Christmas cheer!

Ptes Harré and Taylor in Turkey

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More good news for the unit was confirmed late last year; we have our Warrant Officer Class 2 position back, and congratulations to Sergeant Major PEJ Johnston on your promotion to fill this position. Also promoted during this period to the rank of Lance Corporal was Raynor Martin and Campbell McKellar. Well done Corporals.

Last but not least, we must congratulate Director of Music Major Graham Hickman. Major Hickman was deservedly awarded a DSD in this years “New Years Honours List” for Services to the Military and Music. Well done Boss, we are all very proud of you!!

Until next time, Esprit de Corps!!

Editor

Pte Cameron Burnett

Warrant Officer Class Two PEJ Johnston

Major Hickman receives his DSD miniature from Major Gardner

Pte Sam Powell and Pte Tom Oldham

Cpl Paddy McCarthy

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New Zealand Brass Band Championships, Wellingtonby Pte Cullen

With the NZAB already focussed around music, many of the members of the unit play, or conduct in a brass band. This year the New Zealand Brass Band National Championships were held in Wellington, from the 19th – 23rd April. The solo and party events were held on Wednesday and Thursday. Many of the unit members entered and got placings. Private Joel Williams placed 1st (Open Euphonium) and Private Bryce Fairweather came in a close 2nd, Private John Mason placed 1st (Open BBb Bass), Private Jordan Seaton placed 1st (Open Eb Bass), Lance Corporal Raynor Martin placed 3rd (Open Championship Cornet), Lance Corporal Joe Thomas placed 1st (Open Bass Trombone) and Sergeant Kevin Hickman placed 2nd (Open Flugel Horn). Huge congratulations to them all. On the Friday morning Wellington’s streets where woken up with the sound of music, as every band had to participate in the street march.

Well done to Lance Corporal Brian Eckersley, who was the Drum Major for Canterbury Brass, gaining 2nd place in the A grade. That afternoon the bands had to play a test piece, as well as a hymn, then an own choice on Saturday. Congratulations to Staff Sergeant Nick Johnson who gained 2nd in the test, 2nd in the hymn, 3rd in the own choice and placed 2nd overall in the C Grade, conducting Woolston Concert Brass.

After the contest the New Zealand Army Band was invited to be a part of a Contest Gala Concert held on Sunday the 23rd. The band performed a Retreat Ceremony, consisting of drum beatings, bugle calls and fanfares. We also snuck in a piece written by past member Dwayne Bloomfield, entitled “Passchendaele”. Written for the fallen troops who lost their lives in Passchendaele in 1917. This year commemorates 100 years since Passchendaele happened. The NZAB shared the stage with Wellington Brass Band and the National Band of New Zealand. This was a great privilege and we were honoured to be asked. Overall it was a fantastic contest and some of the best weather Wellington has put on in a while.

Pte Seaton

BBANZ National Champions 2017

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Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial openingby Pte McKellar

Nearly seven years on from the initial September 2010 earthquake in Christchurch and the devastation can still be easily seen around the CBD and surrounding areas. On 22 February this year, the sixth anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake, the Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake Memorial was opened to the public with a ceremony in which the New Zealand Army Band had the honour to perform.Oi Manawa will provide a quiet space for people to reflect on the impact of the earthquakes, and a memorial to those who lost their lives or were injured. It also honours everyone who helped in the rescue and recovery operation. The wall on the south bank of the river is inscribed with the names of 185 people who died in the quake.

The band performed throughout the service and provided the musical backing for Marlon Williams to sing Now is the Hour and also for Timua Brennan who sung Whakaaria Mai. The National Anthem was performed with a small choir made up of members of the band rather than an individual vocalist; this was to encourage more members of the public to sing along.

Another aspect that made the service more moving and original was a continuous river of flowers floating down the river during the ceremony. Members of the public were encouraged to float their own flowers from Cambridge Terrace as well as writing messages to be attached to the Memory tree of hope.

Governor General Garden Partyby Pte Hayden Cullen

On the 6th of February the New Zealand Army Band was invited to join Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy, Prime Minister Bill English and many more dignitaries to provide back ground music for an event at Government House in Wellington. A garden party was held to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, 177 years ago, on the 6th of February 1840.The day started off with rain predicted and the forecast did not indicate much improvement. The gig went forward with the rain just holding off. Windy Wellington was testing the Army Band, and our creativity, to keep the music in place. Only one pile of music went for a “run away try” although a couple of the Bandmasters scores, tried to follow in their footsteps. The Army Band stayed strong getting though with duct tape and wind shields, except for the bottom tenor horn player. At one point a stand blew into his face.

Corporal Vaea Paterson had the pleasure of singing the national anthem of New Zealand once the dignitaries had arrived. He sung with passion and charisma. Afterwards Dame Patsy gave a speech and welcomed the crowd of just over 750 to the occasion. To finish off the Army Band played a sequence of music for two hours. Just after we finished and packed down the rain kicked in. I think it’s safe to say that luck was on our side for the gig, and the event was enjoyed by all.

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JNCO Courseby LCpl Lee

At the end of 2016 I was lucky enough to be successfully nominated to attend the RF Junior Non Commissioned Officers course, run by Army Command School’s 3rd Regional Training Wing over the period of January-April 2017. The course is designed for junior leader’s to learn the All-Arms command skills required to transition to Corporal. The first day of course I found myself engaging with individuals from all sorts of backgrounds and a huge variety of different trades (Field Engineers, Infantrymen, Electronic Warfare Operators, Caterers, Gunners, SAS and more). Thankfully, my love of hunting and the outdoors quickly put me in good steed with my new course-mates, and after our first day together we’d already planned out several trips to the high country. This was the most valuable thing the course gave me – networking opportunities.

The course is run in phases. These being; Drill , Military History Presentations, Mental Skills Instruction, Physical Skills Instruction, Battle Handling Lessons, Orders, and Field Phase. For each phase the soldiers are expected to already be fully competent at the given skills needed for the tasks i.e. Navigation for the Mental Skills instruction, or Break Contact Drills (BCD’s) for the Battle Handling Lessons. The course is designed to enable its students to become fully qualified as all-arms instructors upon completion.

I absolutely loved being a student on this course ,as literally everything was new to me. What sometimes became tedious for the others due to them already being experts became interesting and engaging for me. I especially enjoyed the Orders and Field Phases because of the mental & physical stress, however this mixed with the sheer dominance of our syndicate made for a really rewarding and memorable experience. The instructors on the course had a huge wealth of knowledge and I also found this to be the case with the students too. My syndicate (2 Syndicate) had a great balance: our Sergeant (an Electronic Warfare Operator), 2 Infantry Soldiers, 2 SAS Commandos, an Electronics Technician, a Vehicle Mechanic, a Combat Driver, and a ‘Bandy’. We were pretty stoked to win the ‘Combat Boot’ for top syndicate at the end of course.

I really hope the next lot of bandies to get nominated onto a JNCO course have as an enjoyable time as I did and make the most out of what I found to be a very helpful and rewarding three months.

LCpl Lee and his syndicate

Deer stalking, Tekapo

Three Sheets to the Wind!A short historical story for Esprit De Corpsas related to/by Terry Garmonsway

2016 brought with it New Zealand’s opportunity to choose a new national flag. The nation declined. The 2016 year has also seen our Royal New Zealand Navy celebrating its establishment seventy-five years ago on 1st October 1941. As far as they go these two events are completely unrelated until consideration is given to the fact that, for the Royal New Zealand Navy a change, or possible change, to its flag or ensign is nothing new.Our Navy was very “British”. In fact until 1960 it was commanded by Royal Navy officers. At shore establishments and aboard vessels our Navy, in common with the Royal Australian Navy, flew the Royal Navy’s ensign. Geo-political pressures saw changes implemented. In 1965 a member of Australia’s parliament observed that Australia was sending its Navy to a war, the Vietnam War,

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in which Britain was not involved. Why, he thus wondered, were Australian vessels obliged to fly an ensign belonging to England’s Royal Navy? Given the circumstances of the era common sense apparently prevailed with the unfurling of a new ensign for Australia’s Navy on 1st March 1967.

Our Royal New Zealand Navy followed suit with the unfurling of its new ensign on 20th June 1968. At the time 1RNZIR Band’s 1967-1969 rotation in Malaysia was on a busy round of engagements in Singapore as “duty band”. A couple of months prior a frigate of the Royal New Zealand Navy, “HMNZS Otago”, had sailed to Pearl Harbour for refresher training with the United States Navy’s Fleet Training Group. Completed on 30th May “Otago”, flying a Royal Navy ensign, sailed for Singapore to commence a service tour with the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve.

According to the ship’s Commission Magazine for that particular tour, “HMNZS Otago”, under the command of Capt Richard T Hale, OBE, RNZN, slipped into Singapore Harbour soon after 0500hrs on 20th June. She was secured at the naval armament wharf, Singapore Naval Base, at 0700hrs. Meanwhile some few miles away at Rowcroft Lines, where 1RNZIR Band was billeted, bandsmen were enjoying a relatively sleepy start to their day. Habitually some did not partake of breakfast preferring, instead, to snatch a little extra sleep. 1RNZIR Band had a quiet day with just two fixtures scheduled, first parading alongside “HMNZS Otago” for its change of ensign ceremony then, in the late afternoon, a concert at a children’s hospital

By 1000hrs on that morning a smartly turned out 1RNZIR Band, collectively shaved, showered and squeaky clean, was formed up on the wharf alongside “Otago”. There was no room aboard ship for us. Wherever our Navy was on that day, at home and across the world, their new ensign was hoisted proclaiming that, at last, the Navy had come of age and New Zealand was – at least on the surface – floating its own boats (if you’ll pardon the puns). No one, but no one could have anticipated events following this short, poignant ceremony in Singapore.

At this juncture I need to mention an elixir called rum. On introducing this “devils’ brew” to the story I hastily point out that, from this point onwards, most anecdotal memories conveyed hereafter were brewed by Ian Levien, Richard (Dick) Howe, Tony Cowan, and modest supplementary pickled thoughts from several other sources.

For the benefit of younger readers among us I should first explain that our Royal New Zealand Navy once followed British traditions in issuing a daily rum ration to all ranks. This tradition finally ceased in our Navy at the end of February 1990.

To continue, as might be expected among a band establishment of twenty or so souls memories of this event vary. Their veracity, however, remain only slightly questionable, individually or collectively!.

With unfurling of their new ensign completed the complement of HMNZS Otago invited 1RNZIR Band aboard ship to toast the ensign and the event. “Splice the mainbrace” was ordered, signifying the issue of alcohol to the frigate’s complement and their guests, notably 1RNZIR Band. The sun, it was determined, was over the yardarm. As Ian Levien will attest at the drop of a hat, drinking was virtually encouraged in our services in those days. Nowhere, really, was this more evident than in navy life. Thus with rum and New Zealand beer aplenty celebrations began.

Due to dispersal of personnel to various on-board facilities the band unwittingly found itself leaderless. Bandmaster, Jim Carson, had been invited to the officers’wardroom whilst others among us separated to enjoy hospitality in Petty Officers and junior ratings facilities. Warships in particular seem to comprise an endless series of black holes so although we were but yards apart this just might easily have been a million miles. The consequence? Discipline, nil!

Midday arrived – still no food in the gullets of many bandsmen whilst beer and rum began to exact its evil toll on some. Senior naval ratings broke out their personal stores of rum which they were allowed to save for special occasions. Thinking retrospectively it is suspected they had one objective in mind – to completely “sew up” their guests and, it has to be said, in some cases they succeeded magnificently.

F111 – HMNZS Otago unfurls the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new ensign whilst secured at the Naval Armament Wharf, Singapore Naval Base, on 20th June 1968. 1RNZIR Band,

under Bandmaster Lt. JD Carson, is out of frame to the left. Official photograph kindly supplied by Dennis Going ex RNZN

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Early afternoon saw the last four bandsmen stagger and stumble off the ship, but not before Kevin Jarrett had attempted a bugle call somewhere deep in the bowels of “Otago”. Whether or not he attempted “Retreat” or “Last Post” would be speculative although both might have been appropriate! As the quartet attempted to maintain their balance whilst saluting the flag on leaving the warship a senior rating of the watch bellowed, “Who let those men get in that condition!” If nothing else this signalled a portent of things to come, notably for Kevin.

Back in Rowcroft lines the entire band hit their beds. Most of those afflicted managed to sleep off the worst of their conditions. Erstwhile Drum Major, Tony Cowan, recalls one did not, requiring assistance from others to shower, dress, and get something meaningful into his stomach. At this juncture we departed Rowcroft Lines for our next engagement at a children’s hospital. Ian Levien remembers, “We were fine with our music programme as we were very familiar with it and we developed an easy rapport with our audience – on this occasion mostly young children.”

Still ‘Three Sheets To The Wind’ our star, Kevin, was working his way through the music programme “with a little help from his friends when, suddenly, Jim announced it was time for a post horn solo. Kevin had been dreading this moment for the rapid double-tonguing involved was not something he was going to accomplish. Jim was aware of this, without doubt, but he was going to make an example!”

“What to do?” Ian recalls. “Kevin, ever resourceful, calmly unpacked and assembled his post horn. Just before taking his position at the front of the band, his normal playing position for the item, he quickly said to me (Ian), ‘You play it, Square, every note!’”

Ian duly did his best while Kevin proceeded to mime virtually his entire solo. Not content just to stand still he walked among his audience. Another bandsmen recalls he was chasing the children with his post horn. Our venue was outdoors, lending itself well to a little tomfoolery. Ian recalls, “During the tutti passages Kevin disappeared behind convenient trees, timing his emergences with the “soloist’s next passage!” His performance was hilarious. Our young audience thought it was marvellous! We had unwittingly discovered a presentation technique that served us in good stead for some future performances.”

Jim Carson played along with this charade as though the band had rehearsed it for weeks. Jim was, in a military sense without even considering unit discipline, ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’. Even so, his discipline technique had the desired effect. Magically the matter resolved itself! The band became much more socially circumspect prior to all future engagements.

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The Thomas Cooke VC Memorial Royal Honours Boardby Major Hickman

Several years ago Mr Michael Petterson proposed the NZ Army Band pay tribute to New Zealand’s only military musician Victoria Cross winner, Corporal Thomas Cooke, with an honours board recognising those NZ Army Band musicians who had received significant national honours. Michael duly contacted Corporal Cooke’s descendants, gained their approval and, after considerable time and effort from a number of people, the “Thomas Cooke VC Memorial Honours Board” is now complete and in hanging in the Bandroom.The plaque on the board reads, “3055 Corporal Thomas Cooke, born Kaikoura 5th July 1881, enlisted into the Wellington Garrison Band in the early 1900’s. Subsequently enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 and Killed in Action at the Battle of Pozieres July 1916. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross “for most conspicuous bravery.” Cpl Cooke is New Zealand’s only military musician to receive this award.”

For those not familiar with the New Zealand Royal Honours System it begins with the Victoria Cross, and works down through a variety of tiers including the Orders of Chivalry, Medals for Gallantry and Bravery, Medals for Meritorious Service, Campaign Medals, and ends with Merit, Efficiency and Service Awards (for the full list see online at www.honours.govt.nz/honours/overview/order-of-wear). This of course created a few issues for a board recognising national honours. Over the years a great many NZAB musicians have been awarded campaign medals, and every single soldier who has completed three years service since the inception of the unit is eligible for the NZ Defence Service Medal. Obviously if an honours board recognised all these awards it would need to be the length of the bandroom, and would somewhat undermine the initial intent.

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So, after much discussion amongst the current NZAB Command Team, and consultation with a number of our ‘living heritage’, it was decided to limit the awards recognised on the “Thomas Cooke VC Memorial Honours Board”, to those made by the Head of the Commonwealth, from the Victoria Cross down to, and including, Medals for Meritorious Service, as per the Order of Wear issued by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, dated 18 Nov 2013.

We’ve made every effort to ensure all past and present NZAB musicians that fall within these parameters are included on the board however, if any mistakes or omissions are noted, please just bring them to my attention for rectification.

Lastly I would like to sincerely thank the descendants of Thomas Cooke VC for their support, and to Michael Petterson for his inspiration and efforts in seeing this project come to fruition.

The National Youth Brass Bandby Pte David Froom

The National Youth Band of New Zealand is an opportunity for young brass and percussion musicians to come together and do what they love doing: performing. The National Youth Band is typically held in the last week of January just before school starts and is a good way to finish the Christmas break.This year the Youth Band camp was held in New Plymouth, where teenagers and young adults under the age of 23 practiced for five days under the musical direction of David Bremner. It wasn’t all practice, practice, practice though. The band also partook in fun activities including an amazing race around the beautiful streets of New Plymouth, a quiz night and a walk around New Plymouth’s famous Festival of the Lights.

The Youth Band played four concerts in a different city every night, including New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington.

Eight members of the NZ Army Band took part in the camp this year. Private Hayden Cullen on Solo Cornet, Private David Froom on Tenor Horn, Private Georgia Hoy on Baritone, Private Bryce Fairweather on Euphonium, Private Jordan Seaton on Eb Tuba and Private John Mason on Bb Tuba. The Youth Band had a late edition from the NZ Army Band, Lance Corporal Raynor Martin, who was called up on the day of the first concert to help out on Soprano Cornet. Cpl Leigh Martin also attended as the tuba tutor.

The 2017 National Youth Band was a great success this year and I’m sure everyone who took part is looking forward to next year’s camp.

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NZAB members of the 2017 New Zealand National Youth Band

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Military Training by Pte McKellar

2017 started with a bang for the New Zealand Army Band as we were welcomed back with military training after our block leave over the Christmas/New Years period. As per usual the military training instructor Cpl Chris Foster had organised a few activities which were quite different from our day to day activities as musicians.First thing we did was to get our hands on some weapons to re-familiarise ourselves with safety procedures, TOET’s and states of readiness. For Pte’s Cullen and Froom, this was their first time with a rifle and was exciting new territory. As for Pte Fairweather, (who is the first to tell you he is familiar with the weapon) he learned the hard way that it is still important to put the gas piston in the correct way to prevent jamming up the weapon for the next person to run drills.

This refresher with the weapons put us in good steed for the Weapon Training System (WTS) which has Steyr’s hooked up to compressed air to simulate recoil, and runs through various simulated training situations. At the end of the 2 days in the WTS we had all completed a simulated Annual Weapons Qualification (AWQ).

We also had the opportunity to complete the high ropes course during our training. While daunting for some (most) of us, by the end of the session most of us were much more comfortable with the processes and heights, and had developed more trust in the people we were working with.

Now… back to brass band.Trust building exercise

LCpl Eckersley

Pte Hoy

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Linton and OCS 2016by Pte G Hoy

The Dance Band flew up on the 30th of November to Palmerston North to be a part of Linton’s ‘fun day’. On Friday the 2nd of December the rest of us flew up to meet them. We were there to be a part the Palmerston North Charter Parade, which took place on Saturday morning, and a Retreat Ceremony on the Saturday evening. Before the Retreat Ceremony we performed a short concert with Palmerston North City Brass. We played Putting on the Ritz, Florentine March and Hine Hine. We then finished with the 1812 Overture accompanied by the Guns from 161 Bty.

On Sunday the 4th the big band performed as part of Family day in Linton. Although the weather wasn’t on our side it was still a fun performance to an appreciative crowd. We then headed north for Waiouru. We were there for the Officer Cadet School (OCS) graduation and a retreat ceremony. We also put on a concert for the Waiouru community in the Camp Cinema; it was nice to see a lot of the OCS personnel there to support us. The whole band was lucky to be hosted at the WO’s and SNCO’s mess for dinner and drinks that evening.

We had a couple of long days of rehearsals along with the ‘Junior Quintets’ first performance led by Lance Corporal Joe Thomas. Again before the Retreat Ceremony on the evening of Tuesday the 6th we did another short concert with the same pieces as Palmerston North including the 1812 Overture.

The Officer Cadets of 2016 graduated on Wednesday the 7th; we were honoured to be a part of their graduation ceremony. It was a privilege to have newly appointed Governor General Her Excellency Dame Patsy Reddy there. The Quintet played at the dinner that evening in the Officers Mess for the Graduates, their families and the officials. The Dance Band provided music well in to the night and are always a hit on Graduation night.

For most of the band this was our last trip for the year and it is always a good way to finish off.

NZAB Dance Band

NZAB on parade, Palmerston North

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Resurgamby Pte Hoy

On the 30th of April at 4:00pm the New Zealand Army Band performed at The Piano, Armagh Street, Christchurch. It was the first time that the band has performed a concert in Christchurch since the successful 50th celebration concert in 2014. The Bandmaster Warrant Officer Class Two Phillip Johnston was very excited to be able to showcase the band’s talents locally in Christchurch’s latest performing arts venue “The Piano”. Warrant Officer Johnston has wanted to do a strictly brass band traditional concert the whole time he has been the Bandmaster!

The program took a trip down memory lane as it featured classic brass band repertoire such as Eric Balls Resurgam and Kingdom Triumphant. The band has many past and present New Zealand solo champions and we featured three of them during the concert. Private Kyle Lawson performed Oasis, Lance Corporal Joe Thomas performed Shenandoah and Sergeant Kevin Hickman performed Ave Maria.

It was appropriate, with the concert being so close to ANZAC day, that the band featured Fernleaf Headstones and Passchendaele. Both were written for the band by past member: world renowned composer Dwayne Bloomfield. Fernleaf Headstones was written for the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior and Passchendaele depicts the tragic events of the Third Battle of Ypres, which to this day is still the most deadly day in New Zealand’s wartime history. The programme was rounded off with a couple of classic hymns and of course it would not be an NZ Army Band concert without a march or two.

We would like to thank everyone who came along to support us; it was very exciting to sell out the hall a few days before the concert!

NZAB in concert, The Piano, Christchurch

Retreat ceremony and concert, Palmerston North

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All Corps RF SNCO Course 17/01by Sgt Hickman

It was with some trepidation that I started back at work this year one week before the rest of the unit to prepare for my Senior Non Commissioned Officers course.Being part of the band means that our military education is somewhat limited compared to most corps within the New Zealand Army, and there is the odd gap in our assumed knowledge. But, like anything in life that has to be done, you just have to throw yourself at it and hope for the best.

The course itself was 9 weeks long with the last 7 weeks based at the Waiouru Military camp.

Our first week was adventure training, which consisted of a week’s rock climbing in Wanaka. Sounds awesome…. I didn’t think I had a problem with heights but I have never been so scared in my life!!! If the plan was to strip our characters bare to see how we coped? Mission accomplished.

We then spent a week at the Army Leadership Centre in Burnham before moving into the SNCO’s Mess in Waiouru with my 23 class mates.

From day one in Waiouru it was full-on with lots of late nights preparing and catching up on what we should have picked up during our lessons. The biggest challenge for us was TEWTS (tactical exercise without troops). As a bandsman I’m not too sure of the range and firing position of a Javelin Missile Launcher, let alone the tactical doctrine of an enemy Motorised Battalion. It was fair to say that my brain was overloaded for a few days, but like everything else in the course we found a way to get through.

The course cumulated with a two week field exercise where we conducted or took part in 24 BHE’s (Battle Handling Exercises). This was again something that took me right out of my comfort zone but also something that was surprisingly enjoyable. Waiouru is quite a special part of New Zealand and spending two weeks walking, running and playing war games around the hills was quite rewarding.

My most fond memory of the course was the time getting to know the 23 other students on the course. The camaraderie and Esprit de Corps throughout the course was amazing. The army really does have a lot of smart operators at this rank level and it was a privilege to have gotten to know them all.

March out parade

Tooled up and ready to get the bad guys

Another great day in Wiaouru My TEWT board, good enough for a solid satisfactory pass!

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Band Solosby Pte Froom

This year our annual band solos were held over Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th of April in the Jim Carson Memorial Bandroom. We were lucky enough to have Mr. Mike Ford, an esteemed tenor horn player as the adjudicator of our brass section, and Mr. Brad Kang, a renowned jazz guitarist, to judge the rhythm section solos.On the Thursday morning the brass players competed in either the open or the premier Aria section. There was some great playing all round on this morning and Mike Ford had some great things to say about the playing (and also gave out a few pointers).

After lunch it was the rhythm sections turn to have a jam in both the open and technical fields. We even had an audience from the dental centre come along to have a listen.

Friday rolled around and this is when the pressure was really on the brassies! First we had the open concerto section in the morning and then the premier concerto section after lunch. We then had a prize giving for all the contestants and the results were as follows:

Open Brass Section – Aria1. Pte Jack Harre2. Pte Bryce Fairweather3. LCpl Joe Thomas

Premier Brass Section – Aria1. Sgt Kevin Hickman2. WO2 Phil Johnston3. LClp Marc Ellis

Open Brass Section – Concerto1. Pte John Mason2. Pte Hayden Cullen3. Pte Georgia Hoy

Premier Brass Section – Concerto1. WO2 Phil Johnston2. Pte Raynor Martin3. = Pte Joel Williams = Sgt Kevin Hickman

Rhythm Section – Open1. Pte Cameron Burnett2. Pte Stu MacFarlane3. Sgt Riwai Hina

Rhythm Section – Technical1. Pte Jack Harre2. Pte Sebastian Taylor3. Sgt Riwai Hina

All in all the entire band really appreciated playing and listening to some really good solos and enjoyed participating in some healthy competition.

LCpl Martin

Pte Burnett, congratulated by the boss and Mr Kang Pte Harré and Mr Ford

Overall brass winner WO2 Johnston NZAB Heritage

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Hokitika Wild Food Festival TourBY Pte Seaton

On Thursday 9th of March the band drove to the West Coast to perform as part of the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival. We stayed in Greymouth for 5 days and also played concerts at Westland High School, Buller High School and Greymouth High School.The Hokitika Wild Foods Festival is a celebration of different foods from all around New Zealand and the world. The Army Band often frequents this festival and always has a good time performing and trying new things. I personally got involved with the spirit of the Festival trying different culinary delights such as Deer semen, Huhu-grubs and Fish eyes. This was a great experience and I recommend this to anyone daring enough. Although it was a miserable day weather wise, morale within the band definitely compensated for this.

The band then travelled north to Nelson where we caught a flight into Wellington to play for the NZ Intelligence Corps 30th Anniversary Ball at Te Papa, at Mana College and Wellington East Girl’s High School.

On the way up to Nelson, the band stopped to take in the sights at the Pancake Rocks.

The school concerts were a hit. We were well received by Wellington East Girls College which was a nice way to end our tour of the West Coast and Wellington.

World Bowls Championships Opening Ceremonyby Pte Cullen

On the 28th of November the New Zealand Army band suited up in full kit and headed off to the CBD of Christchurch to play at “The World Bowls Championships Opening Ceremony”. With the weather on our side and the sun shinning bright, we formed up at the starting point of the street march. Leading the competitors down the street was so invigorating, as this event has not been held in New Zealand for over 20 years. There were over 52 countries, from six different continents marching behind us.We ended the street march in front of the city council building. The band repositioned themselves into brass band formation, while the competitors filed in. From there a Powhiri was commenced to welcome everyone to the opening of the World Bowls Championships, accompanied by a couple of songs from a Christchurch kapa haka group. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mayor Lianne Daziel said a few welcoming words, finishing with everyone singing the song Join Together accompanied by the New Zealand Army Band with Private Campbell McKellar leading the vocals. It was a real privilege to play a part in such a prestigious event.

16 | Issue 1

A Day in the Life ...

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Xmas cheer!

New Orleans band pulls in the big crowds!

Cheer up Santa’s little helper

WO2 Johnston loving Joel’s trumpet solo

Cam has no problem with heights – yet!!