New Zealand Army Band Powles Road Burnham Military Camp Burnham 7600

Ph: (03) 363 0200Fax: (03) 363 0193Email: army.band@nzdf.mil.nz

Esprit de CorpsNEW ZEALAND ARMY BAND NEWSLETTER

Issue 2 June 2016ISSN: 2382-1809

2 | Issue 2

Kia Ora readers,

Welcome to the 2nd issue of Esprit de Corps for the year, and what a few months it has been highlighted by our trip to Windsor for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 90th birthday celebrations. You will read and see much more on that adventure in the following pages.

Other highlights since our last issue have been our annual ANZAC commitments which took members of the NZAB to Australia and the other side of the world. Those of us who were left in New Zealand supported the Christchurch dawn parade and the Burnham Camp Dawn Parade. As usual we have had our fair share of parades including a Depot Company march out here in Burnham. It is always great to be able to support other Burnham units when our commitments allow!

We would like to welcome into the ranks Pte David Froom on tenor horn. David was taught to play in New Plymouth by past member and current reservist Cpl Leigh Martin. Welcome David and we look forward to your contribution.

The New Zealand National Band to tour Europe next year has been named and no less than seven members of the unit have been selected! Congratulations to Maj Graham Hickman, SSgt Phil Johnston, Cpl Vaea Peterson, LCpls Joe Thomas and Cam Lee and Ptes Kyle Lawson and John Mason.

The next few months will also be exciting times for the unit with our annual solo competition and formal dinner as well as our preparation for another visit to Scotland to participate in the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

On behalf of all members past and present I would like to thank Wayne Shears for all his hard work keeping our past members database up to date. A huge job and much appreciated Wayne.

Until the next issue ... Esprit de Corps!!

Editor

In this issuePg 3: ANZAC Day

Promotions

Pg 4: 2/4 Battalion Charter Parade and School Concerts, Nelson and Blenheim

Pg 5: Laying up on the New Zealand Scottish Regiment Colours

Pg 6: Performance Day

An Evening with Sir Peter Jackson

Pg 7: Gallipoli 2016

Pg 8-9: Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations

Pg 10-11: ANZAC Week with the NZ Veterans Band

Pg 11: Hanmer Soldiers Block Centenary

Pg 12: A Day in the Life ...

Marketing Cell IC:Sgt Kevin Hickman

Marketing Cell 2IC:LCpl Joe Thomas

Social Media: LCpl Cameron Lee

Marketing Assistants:Pte Hettie AdamsPte Georgia Hoy Pte Campbell McKellar

Newsletter Editor:Sgt Kevin Hickman

Front Cover:Director of Music Major Graham Hickman presents Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second a TewhatewhaIntroducing Pte David Froom

Like us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/TheNZArmyBand

3 | Issue 2

ANZAC Day by Pte McKellar

This year, while the band was participating in its regular ANZAC day activities such as the Christchurch morning services in town and Burnham, and deployment to Gallipoli, I made my way to Melbourne for the second time this year. I was sent to participate in multiple ANZAC commemorational services as a representative of New Zealand and the Defence Force.

My fi rst role was sprung on me the day before I travelled, with a last minute email requesting that I raise the fl ag for a pre-game service at the Melbourne Rebels rugby game. Having not learnt fl ag drill I was unsure how it would go, but my involvement consisted of marching to a fl ag pole with the fl ag already mounted, and raising it from half to full mast and nothing more. As you would expect, I nailed it! As a reward for this triumphant achievement, members of the Australian Army Band Melbourne and I were treated to an evening in a corporate box to watch the game and enjoy the festivities.

ANZAC day started nice and early with a rehearsal with the AABM before the dawn service to run through the NZ national anthem. The dawn service was a small aff air held inside Simpson Barracks, but moving nonetheless. This was followed by a yearly ritual for the AABM of a hot breakfast cooked up for the band.

Now for the big one! The main reason for my trip was to sing God Defend New Zealand at both the MCG for an Essendon vs Collingwood AFL game and at AAMI park stadium for the Warriors vs Storm NRL game. The MCG was close to its capacity of 100,000 people and was indeed a sight to behold. This was by far the largest live audience I had ever performed in front of and was a moment I will never forget. The Warriors game was also very special because although there weren’t nearly as many in the crowd, there were apparently a lot of Kiwis in attendance, which resulted in the stadium erupting after the last note of the NZ anthem, whereas I only heard the roar of the MCG after the Australian anthem was sung.

It was a very diff erent ANZAC day experience but one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

Pte McKellar at the G!!

Promotionsby LCpl J C Thomas

Promotion within the military is one of the most satisfying and signifi cant outcomes from hard work an individual has done within their unit. It is a moment individuals are thrilled to share with friends and family, as it is a huge step in their personal career progression, but it is not often they get to share such an event like Graham and Kevin Hickman of the New Zealand Army Band.

For the Hickman brothers, they got to share this achievement, together ...

On Thursday 29th April, both Captain Graham Hickman, and Corporal Kevin Hickman received their promotions to Major Hickman and Sergeant Hickman respectively.

Major Hickman enlisted on cornet into the New Zealand Army Band in 1985 as a Private Musician and was part of the fi nal 1RNZIR Band to be posted to Singapore 1986-88. Maj Hickman has also served as the units Bandmaster reaching the rank of Warrant Offi cer Class Two in 2003. In 2009 Maj Hickman was commissioned and took over the role of Director of Music in the New Zealand Army Band in 2010. He continues to lead the band maintaining the world-class reputation the Army Band has developed.

In 2010 Sergeant Hickman joined the New Zealand Army Band and currently serves as the band’s principal cornet. Sgt Hickman has won several solo titles within the annual NZ Army Band solo competition, and had the honour of being selected as the bugler for the 100th Commemorations at Gallipoli. Aside from his high-class musicianship; Sgt Hickman has also featured as the guest soloist for the National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand.

Congratulations to both Major Hickman and Sergeant Hickman on your recent promotions!

Major Hickman and Sergeant Hickman with the bands CO Major Gardner

4 | Issue 2

2/4 Battalion Charter Parade and School Concerts, Nelson and Blenheimby Pte J A Seaton

On Friday the 1st of April the band departed Christchurch in a number of rental vans to head to Nelson. After driving all day we checked into our accommodation. Saturday morning consisted of rehearsals for the 2/4 Battalion Charter Parade. The parade was that afternoon, was very fl uid and was done professionally. While the majority of the unit was doing this the Dance Band was in Westport for the Holcom Cement plant closing down function. They arrived on Sunday, just in time for a day off ! The people who weren’t involved in the schools concerts fl ew home that day.

We had our fi rst school concert on Monday morning at Nayland College. The crowd was a mixture of people from Nayland College and the surrounding area schools. The concert consisted of new modern charts targeting the age group that we were playing too. On Tuesday we performed twice at Waimea College. We had two very successful concerts and a great DAB from the Band Master in the middle of one of the concerts. We then travelled to Blenheim. The next day we had two concerts at Marlborough Girls College. These were very well received with people wanting photos with our stars of the show. Overall it was a successful trip and everyone had lots of fun.

Nelson Charter Parade

NZAB Winding through the streets of Nelson

Check out this action shot!Pte Fotu, School Concert

5 | Issue 2

Laying up of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment Coloursby LCpl C F N W Lee

On 16th April 2016 the New Zealand Army Band had the rare honour of accompanying Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifl es on parade as they formally ‘Laid Up’ the New Zealand Scottish Regiment colours. This parade and ceremony marked the formal disbandment of the last components of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment.

The regiment was formed in 1939 after New Zealand was lobbied to follow other Commonwealth countries in having a kilted Scottish regiment. The highland uniform attracted a number of soldiers and apparently helped boost recruitment. The units of the regiment were set up in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and of course Dunedin.

The parade itself consisted of a 100-man guard, several LAV’s, former members of the regiment, and a piper Bruce Keddie who was marching with us (the fi rst time the Band has marched with a piper in its midst). At 1315 the parade stepped off from Dunedin’s Queens Gardens, proceeding up Rattray Street along Princess Street to the upper Octagon, where the parade was challenged by the New Zealand Police. From the Octagon the parade advanced down Stuart Street to Toitu (Otago Settlers Museum), where a large group of Military offi cials and guests watched the offi cial laying up of the colours ceremony. The reviewing offi cer at the ceremony was the Deputy Chief of Army, Brigadier Chris Parsons.

“There is a certain amount of sadness in laying up the colours, but instead of being laid up in a church where they will decay, we are pleased they are going to a museum where they will be well preserved for ex-members of the regiment and future generations to view.”- Major Williams, QAMR 2IC.

Handing over of the colours

NZAB marching through the streets of Dunedin

6 | Issue 2

Performance dayby Pte G D Hoy

On the 22nd of April the unit held a performance day. This was run by Sergeant Dave Fiu. We hadn’t had a performance day for many years so Dave thought it was a good opportunity to have one again! Everyone was encouraged to perform at least one act and it was awesome to see that everyone did. Performance days are held to see out-of-the-box creative ideas. These sometimes end up working their way into our schools concerts and such. It is also a chance to encourage NZAB members to get out of their comfort zones and try something a little diff erent.

Some highlights included:

• Sergeant Kevin Hickman’s rendition of Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’, this was made even better with costume

• A barber shop quartet who sang two numbers made up of Sergeant Fiu and Private’s Raynor Martin, Selu Fotu and Cameron Robertson

• Private’s Joel Williams and Jordan Seaton’s very funny tuba duet which saw them do one bar each of ‘Carnival of Venice’

• Private Bryce Fairweather sang, or should I say screamed to Lance Corporal Marc Ellis on guitar playing Sic by Slipknot

• Private Williams sang and was accompanied by everyone in the unit who thinks they can play guitar/ukulele

• Sergeant Riwai Hina had put together a couple of ensembles; one trombone quintet accompanied by rhythm section and one Mario themed tuba quartet

• Staff Sergeant Nick Johnson bought over Emie ... Who is a MAP student at the school of music and we were all wowed by her amazing voice when she sang ‘Summertime’. Private Robertson helped accompany with his trumpet noodling.

• Staff Sergeant Tristan Mitchell showed off his new skills he’s been learning with the tewha-tewha.

After a very fun afternoon the social club put on a barbecue which was a great success.

Billy Joel

An Evening with Sir Peter Jacksonby LCpl J C Thomas

The Great War Exhibition tells the story of the First World War in brilliant colour. Included in the Exhibition are hundreds of war photographs, each painstakingly colourised, which bring the realities of that time into the modern era.

The creation and displaying of these photos is expensive, thus the NZ Army Band were delighted to be part of a fundraising dinner along side exhibition creator and famous fi lm maker, Sir Peter Jackson.

The band performed music during dinner, as well as some short excerpts from War Themed Films to introduce guest speakers. The Army Band were a perfect match for the evening of fi ne wining and dining.

Some familiar faces were in attendance at the evening; Prime Minister John Key, our former Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones CNZM, plus many other public icons. To attend this dinner a table of ten cost $5,000, and everyone in attendance was given the opportunity to have their name associated with one of the amazing photographs for the small price of $25,000 per photo.

Above is a sample from the exhibition

Slipknot pays NZAB a visit!!

7 | Issue 2

Gallipoli 2016by Pte H R Adams

On the 5th of April 2016, Lance Corporal Ross Yorkstone (bugle), Private Jack Harré (cornet) and myself (vocalist), headed to Whenuapai Airforce Base to start our pre deployment training for the big trip to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day. In Auckland we met up with the other members of the contingent including the Maori cultural group, members of the catafalque guard, the rest of the Band from the Airforce and Navy, and our liaison offi cer team members. This year the brass Quintet was run by the Airforce with FLTLT Simon Brew as our musical director and our contingent commander was WGCDR Darryl Cockcroft.

Pre-deployment training was 5 days consisting of rehearsals, group Haka practice and many briefi ngs. On Friday the 15th we left for Singapore where we had a 6 hour stop over before carrying onto Istanbul where we then drove for 5 hours to our destination of Canakkale. We were given the 17th off as recovery day, many of us used this day to have a look around and do some shopping!

We were lucky enough to have John McLeod take us for two full days of battlefi eld tours where we walked the footsteps of those who fought and fell before us. This included Chunuk Bair, Lone Pine, Baby700, Anzac Cove, Hill 10 and many other memorials including Turkish Memorials.

The 24th and 25th came around very quickly, (the main reason for us being in Turkey) and we were getting ready to start our 30 hour job on the peninsula. Just as the sun began to go down on the 24th the rain began to fall. The only time it wasn’t 25-30 degrees was the same time that 1,500 people were openly outside in sleeping bags! Our quintet combined with the Australian Navy Band during the evening of the 24th to entertain the crowd through the night and then continued to perform at the dawn service on the 25th. LCPL Ross Yorkstone played the last post and I had the privilege of performing the National Anthem.

After the Anzac Dawn service, the contingent moved up to Chunuk Bair to prepare for the New Zealand Service which had the same amount of people that attended the ANZAC Dawn Service and was broadcasted live across the nation. I think I can say on behalf of the contingent that this was the most moving service of the day, as it really touched many of our members who have fought or lost friends through armed confl icts. At the end of this service we joined together in a circle to pray and there was not a dry eye to be seen.

On the 28th the contingent started our journey to return back to the land of the long white cloud travelling back through Istanbul with one night in Auckland for those who had further to travel. We returned back in Christchurch on the 31st of April.

Overall it was a very successful trip and an absolute honour for all us to perform and take part in the Gallipoli Commemorations.

Pte Harré and LCPL Yorkstone LCpl Yorkstone performing the Last Post

Pte Adams

8 | Issue 2

Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrationsby Pte H R Adams

On the 4th of May the New Zealand Army Band travelled to London for one of the highest profi le performances in Army Band history, The Queens 90th Birthday jubilee. On the way over we had a stop-over in Singapore to break up the travel, a nostalgic time for some of the band members who served in Singapore in the 80s.

The Queens 90th birthday celebrations took place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle in the evenings of 12th-15th of May; at the same venue as the Royal Windsor Horse Show held during the days of 11th-15th of May. The Band combined with 1,500 performers from other countries such as Fiji, Australia, Canada, Oman, Chile, Azerbaijan, the UK and also solo performers such as Dame Shirley Bassey, Kylie Minogue, James Blunt, Andrea Bocelli and Jess Glynne along with 900 horses to gallop through the key events of her life.

This trip became extremely special for the band when a personal request came from Her Majesty for a private show on the lawns of Windsor castle. She had requested to see our longer 9 minute marching display as we only had 2 and a half minutes in her 90th birthday jubilee performance! It was the smallest but yet, most important audience the band has ever performed for.

We did four evening shows; with a member of the royal family in attendance each night and Her Majesty the Queen present at the fi nal performance on Sunday night along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Tim Keating MNZM was also in attendance at the Sunday show and earlier that day visited us briefl y to wish us luck on our fi nal performance.

DOM Major Hickman, Drummajor Staff Sergeant Mitchell and other members of the command team had the honour of personally meeting the queen and also the great privilege of presenting Her Majesty with a Tewhatewha, which was especially carved for her.

We were also lucky enough to have the Dance band perform at the cast bar for two nights, led by Sergeant Riwai Hina. It is safe to say they were a hit!

The band returned home on the 16th of May after an incredible two weeks, full of exciting and overwhelming opportunities. A once in a life time opportunity for many members of the band!

SSgt Johnston meets Her Majesty

WO2 Mitchell explains the carving on the presented Tewhatewha

WO2 Mitchell and Major Hickman in front of Windsor CastleStep off for HM QEII

continued overleaf ...

9 | Issue 2

Haka – Windsor Horse Trials

HM QEII and Prince Philip enjoy a private performance of the NZAB’s marching display

HM QEII and Prince Philip chat with NZAB after the performance

NZAB and Irish Guardsmen NZAB meet the locals

CDF Lt. Gen. Paul Keating and NZAB

... continued

10 | Issue 2

ANZAC Week with the NZ Veterans Bandby Ian Levien

After Anzac Day this year a few letters to the Editor were published in the New Zealand Herald commenting about services that were held. Most were complimentary, though one bemoaned the poor standard of community singing and suggested the solution to this problem could be to intersperse well-trained school children choristers among the crowd to “lead the way.” Hmm.

Another letter was highly critical of the drabness of the occasion, the boring speakers and the dirge-like hymns. His suggestion for improvement seemed to aim at turning the day into a celebration and to include a gun-fi re salute. Interesting.

My immediate reaction was to ask myself if a community band had been present at those particular services? A brass band, for example, is uniquely suited to lead the way at such outdoor events. In addition they can usually provide the appropriate bugle calls too – something which choristers might fi nd a little diffi cult to do.

Brass bands are in high demand throughout the country for Anzac Day each year, as are buglers. Many perform at three or more services as well as provide buglers to communities further afi eld. Even then, the demand will always exceed a band’s ability to supply or to respond to all requests.

So if your community and Club are fortunate to have a band participate at your Anzac Service, treasure them and make sure you give that band any support that you can.

One region which probably struggles to obtain musical support for all communities is the Coromandel. Such was not the case this year though for the community of Pauanui. For this was the year that the NZ Veterans Band came to town.

The Veterans Band, all players being former musicians of the NZ Defence Services, was formed in 2012 through the initiative of Mr Michael Petterson O.L. of Christchurch. Michael, a former Army bandsman and a former Consul to Belgium brought the players together in 2012 with the express purpose of performing commemorative services and concerts on or near some of the WWI battlefi elds of Flanders and France.

This tour was so successful and so memorable for the participants that members decided to reassemble on a regular basis. After a year off in 2013 to recuperate, 2014 saw the Band travel to Queensland where hosts for Anzac week were the Tewantin-Noosa RSL. They were so impressed they invited the Band back for 2015. The players willingly obliged.

For this year though, the Band decided to perform within New Zealand and it was our good fortune that two members, both residents of Pauanui, volunteered to organise our stay and our performances in Pauanui and local communities.

We are indebted to David and Rayna Leslie and Bert and Jan Cullen for organising accommodation, the community events and activities and, not least the essential community backing to host players, provide rehearsal facilities and attend the performances in the considerable numbers that they did.

Fortunately too the members are multi-skilled, many play more than one instrument, several are conductor-players, others have administrative expertise and more than one is able to fi ll Drum Major duties if needed. On this occasion for their special eff orts we acknowledge:-

Patron: Michael Petterson, O.L.

Founding Director of Music: Chris Campbell B.E.M.

Treasurer: Lindsay (Tubby) Brown.

Secretary/Librarian: Wayne Shears

continued overleaf ...

Jan Cullen & Rayna Leslie

David Leslie & Bert Cullen

11 | Issue 2

Drum Major: Peter Wilson

Drum Corps: Ron Abelson and Lou Moverley

M.C: Tim McDavitt (also guitar, vocals, player/conductor, organising etc)

Conductor Duties: Ian Levien, Ron Abelson, John Knowles (also feature soloist, Tala Natapu and Tim McDavitt (again).

Principal Cornet: Doug Rose

Buglers: Doug Rose, Brian Hanify, Dennis Taylor and Frank Lundberg.

Wives and Partners: Without whom no show would get on the road.

The Programme 20-25 April 2016(not in order of performance)

Retreat Ceremonies at Whangamata RSA and at the Pauanui Club.

Concerts at Whangamata RSA, Thames Saturday Market and Pauanui (2).

Anzac Services at Pauanui Beach (Dawn Service) and Citizens Service (late morning).

Performances of a diff erent nature also took place at the Leslies, the Cullens, the Bowls Club, Hahei, Cathedral Cove and on the bus.

Thank you to all members for helping to keep our heritage and traditions alive.

Veterans Band

... continued

Hanmer Soldiers Block Centenaryby Sgt K J Hickman

Every time the NZAB tours we leave behind our very supportive and understanding families. Although they all do an awesome job of keeping the home fi res burning it can be tough on them, so it was fantastic over the weekend of the 11th & 12th of June that we could bring our families with us for a weekend in Hanmer to celebrate the Centenary of the opening of the Soldiers Block at Queen Mary Hospital.

The weekend consisted of many activities including an old time ball on the evening of the 11th. The NZAB big band provided musical support for this event and it was a great chance for our families to see the band in action and enjoy a night out together. The band also participated in a parade and service the following day.

During the weekend there was also plenty of time for our families to socialise and enjoy the delights of Hanmer including the fantastic Hanmer hot pools!! All and all it was an awesome weekend enjoyed by all of the NZAB members and their families.

Service - soldiers block Hanmer NZAB parades through the old Queen Mary Hospital grounds

Monique and the NZAB wives

12 | Issue 2

A Day in the Life ...

Like us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/TheNZArmyBand

What you having for dinner Mo Mo? Sgt Hina sporting army issue sunnies. Pte Seaton advises CDF on white paper.

Yeh boss, it’s the big desk. Windsor Dab!

Whatever Joel – we could do heaps better!