REVIEW WEEK - AN OVERVIEW

Centenary Naval Review 2001 is a celebration of the Royal Australian Navy's service to the country over the last 100 years. Navies from around the world will be represented in what will be an "awesome display" of international ships, submarines, aircraft and navy people.

Central to the celebrations will be the review itself. It will be an impressive daytime display of over 50 warships in Sydney Harbour, many of which will be underway in formation. Ships representing the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, United States, France, India, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Thailand, China and South Korea. The reviewing officer, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, accompanied by His Excellency the Governor General will witness the event from aboard the hydrographic ship HMAS Melville, which will travel around the harbour to review each ship.

The Review day will also witness the final entry into Sydney Harbour for the veteran guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG41), veteran of the Vietnam War and Desert Storm and one of the RAN's most-loved ships. She will be decommissioned in late October, her retirement marking the end of an era - the last RAN ship to have fired weapons in anger.

Up to one million people are expected to line the foreshores of the world's most famous harbour to witness this historic Australian and Naval event. The review will start shortly after 1pm on Saturday, October 6. At 8 pm a massive fireworks display will begin.

The Battle of Sydney Harbour will be unlike any night show seen, with unique contributions from the visiting warships, the Army and Royal Australian Air Force.

Supporting the two harbour spectaculars will be other events for the Australian and visiting sailors to interact with the public. A massive city march, ship open days, a Youth Sea Day, performances by the Navy and overseas bands and cultural activities also form part of the week-long program.

The city march on Thursday, October 4, led by the Maritime Commander, RADM Geoff Smith, will be the largest naval contingent since the Second World War to march through the city. More than 7000 personnel will take part, including 3000 from the various navies, 3000 from ex-naval organisations and 400 Australian Navy Cadets.

CEREMONIAL FLEET ENTRY - Tuesday, October 2

Ships of the Royal Australian Navy will accompany the visiting warships of 12 nations into Sydney Harbour to signal the start of the Centenary Naval Review. Initially, Australian Fleet units will sail from Sydney Harbour on the morning of Tuesday, October 2, to rendezvous with the international visitors off the coast of NSW.

Then, the combined task force of 22 ships will make an extended formation entry into Sydney Harbour throughout the afternoon. Two rows of 11 ships will enter Sydney Harbour and make their way up the Harbour, berthing at Garden Island, Fleet Base East at Woolloomooloo, the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Darling Harbour and the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal, opposite the Sydney Opera House.

The best vantage points around the Harbour to watch the fleet entry will be North Head, Middle Head, Bradley's Head and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Each will offer a magnificent view of the arrival spectacle.

Tuesday afternoon's arrival will be the largest formation fleet entry seen in Sydney for more than a decade, and will provide a fitting introduction to a magnificent week of spectacular action.

VETERAN MEMORIAL SERVICE -Wednesday, October 3

The past sacrifices of sailors of all nations will be remembered in a moving ceremony to be held at the Cenotaph in Martin Place in the heart of Sydney.

Senior representatives of all the visiting navies, together with veterans associations and the leadership of the Royal Australian Navy, will pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by the sailors of all nations in a poignant ceremony at 11am. The revered national shrine will take on a sombre tone as wreaths are laid in the memory of all sailors, of all nations, who have been lost in times of conflict and peace.

The Royal Australian Navy Band and the Sydney Area Standing Guard will provide the ceremonial backing to this moving service.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and take part in a moment of reflection for all those sailors, of all nations, who have paid the ultimate price in the service of their countries.

COMBINED NAVIES MARCH - Thursday, October 4

In the tradition of naval reviews world wide, one of the high points will be the march through the streets of Sydney by a massed assembly of sailors from around the world.

A total of 7,000 personnel will step off from the Art Gallery of New South Wales at midday for a massed march through the bustling heart of Australia's biggest city. More than 500 Australian Navy Cadets, representing Australia's youth, and more than 3,000 members of the Naval Association of Australia, representing the traditions and history of the RAN, will join 3000 sailors from the assembled navies to triumphantly declare to the nation that 'The Fleet's In!'

The march will pass along Art Gallery Road, move down Macquarie Street past the New South Wales Parliament building (Australia's oldest parliament) and turn into Hunter Street, passing through the heart of Sydney's financial district. The march will then turn left into George Street, centrepiece of the city, passing the Sydney Town Hall at 12.25 pm, where the Governor General will take the salute.

Once past the Town Hall the march will turn right into Liverpool Street and end at Tumbalong Park in the Darling Harbour precinct, where participants will be treated to the best of an Australian style barbecue.

The public will be invited to line the march route to cheer on the sailors of a dozen nations as they pass in review through the streets of Australia's largest city.

NAVY BAND PERFORMANCES

A highpoint of the Centenary Naval Review will be the repertoire of music performed at a series of free concerts around Sydney by bands from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia. Some of the world's finest military bands will perform the soundtrack of the Centenary Naval Review.

On Tuesday, October 2, Wednesday the 3rd and Friday the 5th of October, three of the world's great military bands will perform a series of free concerts for the people of Sydney. The United States Navy Band, the Band of the Royal New Zealand Navy and Her Majesties Royal Marine Band of the United Kingdom will perform a round-robin of free concerts for the public between noon and 2 pm on each of the three days.

Venues for the series of concerts will be:

• Darling Harbour, located in the heart of the City,
• The Museum of Contemporary Art in the historic Rocks area on the shores of Sydney Cove adjacent to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and opposite the Sydney Opera House and
• The Corso at Manly, adjacent to one of Sydney's world famous beaches

The massed bands of the Royal Australian Navy will perform the free 'Sounds of the Sea' Gala at Sydney Town Hall on the evening of Thursday, October 4, commencing at 7.00 pm. This will be the largest massed Navy Band spectacular for more than a decade, involving more than 80 musicians. Bookings for this are essential, and should be made on (02) 9359 2618.

The Navy Open Day on Sunday, October 7, will see the various Navy bands performing free concerts for the public throughout the day at the main open day venue of Garden Island and the Fleet Base. So pull up a seat and make the most of this rare opportunity to hear some of the world's finest military bands, playing in and around Sydney.

INTERNATIONAL FLEET REVIEW -Saturday, October 6

The highlight of the Centenary Naval Review will be the Centenary Fleet Review on Saturday on the magnificent stage that is Sydney Harbour

His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, in his role as Admiral of the Fleet, will review the assembled ships from the hydrographic ship Melville, as an armada of warships, the largest seen in Sydney for more than a decade, pass in review.

Five moving review lines of warships, comprising Australian and visiting vessels, will pass through the Harbour, their grey bulk a striking contrast with the multitude of spectator craft that are expected to fill the various bays and inlets around the Harbour.

The public will have a front row seat to the festivities, with Bradley's Head, Kirribilli, Cremorne Point, Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the Botanical Gardens, Point Piper, Darling Point and the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House all providing breathtaking views of the proceedings.

The review will commence at 12.30pm and will proceed through the afternoon, leading into the breathtaking Battle of Sydney Harbour that evening.

THE BATTLE OF SYDNEY HARBOUR - Saturday, October 6

One of the highlights of the Centenary Naval Review will be The Battle of Sydney Harbour fireworks spectacular. Sydney has become synonymous with spectacular fireworks displays, but the The Battle of Sydney Harbour will set a new benchmark for what can be achieved on the magnificent maritime stage. The night skies over the Harbour will explode into light as onlookers witness the greatest fireworks spectacular staged in Australia.

The fireworks challenge was to create something new, something different. The Royal Australian Navy has taken up this challenge and will co-ordinate an extravaganza to rival the finest displays seen in Sydney.

Innovative thinking, combining the best of commercial expertise with military capabilities and logistics will see the "Battle" provide the Australian and international audience with a world class sight and sound extravaganza.

SHIP OPEN DAYS

The stars of the review, the ships from more than a dozen nations, will be open for inspection at various locations around Sydney over two days.

On Friday, October 5, ships from many navies will be open for inspection at the following locations between one and 4 pm:

• The Royal Australian Navy's home at Fleet Base East at Woolloomooloo.
• HMAS WATERHEN at Waverton on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour.
• Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal, opposite the world famous Sydney Opera House.
• Darling Harbour Passenger Terminal adjacent to the centre of the central business district.

On Sunday, October 7, fresh from the triumph of Saturday's Naval Review, most of the participating ships will be open at the following locations from 10am to 4pm:

• Fleet Base East at Woolloomooloo.
• Historic Garden Island Dockyard, adjacent to the Fleet Base East.
• The Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal.
• Darling Harbour Passenger Terminal.
• Cockle Bay, adjacent to the Darling Harbour shopping and tourist precinct.

Fleet Base East and Garden Island will also play host to a vast array of navy and maritime-related displays, as well as numerous concerts by the bands of the Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, United States Navy and the Royal Marines of the United Kingdom.

If previous naval reviews and visiting ship open days in Sydney are any indication the people of Sydney will flock to see their international guests.

To control traffic flows around many of these venues, and to avoid long delays, it is recommended that members of the public wishing to visit the ships take advantage of Sydney's public transport links to make their way to and from the various venues.

In particular, car parking will not be available at Fleet Base East, Garden Island, and HMAS Waterhen.

OPEN DAY DISPLAYS - PM Friday October 5 and AM/PM Sunday October 7

The focus may be on the main action in the centre of the Harbour during the Review, but much more will be happening around the Harbour as part of the spectacle on the water.

A full program of supporting events has been developed, including:

• Dynamic displays by the clearance diving teams of the RAN.
• Search and rescue displays by the helicopters of the RAN's Fleet Air Arm.
• As well, there will be much to see and do for the family during the open days on Friday afternoon and all day Sunday;
• Navy 100 Year Marquee, a massive display highlighting the Navy of today and yesteryear, the future and some surprises!
• Free band concerts throughout the day.
• Fire fighting displays by the RAN's School of Ship Survivability and Safety.
• Navy diver displays by the RAN's Clearance Diving Team 1.
• Comprehensive Navy photographic displays featuring historic and current images.
• Comprehensive flag display featuring flag history, protocols and current flags and ensigns, in particular commemorating the Centenary of the Australian National Flag.
• Hydrographic display featuring the role of the hydrographic service in safe navigation.
• Australian Naval Cadets dynamic display
• Heritage artefacts from the Navy historical collection.
• For the whole family, a "mini fleet review" of almost a 100 1/72-scale radio controlled warships operating in the Captain Cook Dry Dock throughout the day.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS NAVY - PM Friday October 5 and Sunday October 7

One of the centrepieces of the shore-side open days will be the vast Navy display, housed in a huge marquee on Fleet Base East at Woolloomooloo.

The marquee will be clearly visible on the Fleet Base East at Woolloomooloo. Inside the marquee will be packed with a wide variety of exhibits to delight the young and old, covering the Royal Australian Navy through the last century.

The past will be remembered with an extensive display of heritage and historic artefacts from the Navy's historical collection, some of which have not been placed on public display before.

Paying homage to the Navy of today and yesterday will be an extensive photographic display, covering the Navy from its earliest days to more recent operations such as East Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, while a number of video's on the Navy past and present will play in a theatre inside the marquee.

A collection of models of the Navy's current warships will be on display, providing a close up look at this "fleet in miniature", while examples of the modern Navy's weapons will also be on show. In a more whimsical mode, the display will also cover some of the icons of Australia's first century, including the Hills hoist and the Victa mower.

FLEET DEPARTURE - Tuesday, October 9

All good things must come to an end. Visiting ships and personnel will depart from Sydney to undertake exercises off the coast of eastern Australia before proceeding home.

The massed collection of international naval might in Sydney Harbour will enjoy a day of relative calm to enjoy the many and varied delights of Sydney before departing. The vessels will sail from Sydney in company with ships of the Royal Australian Navy in groups from 8am.

Members of the public hoping to witness the departure are encouraged to be at North Head, Cremorne Point, Middle Head, Bradley's Head and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, all of which will offer excellent vantage points.

Once at sea Australian and international warships will take part in an "Intex", or International Exercise, involving seamanship, navigation, ship handling, damage control and officer of the watch manoeuvres.

On completion of the exercise each nation's ships will proceed on their way to their next destination.