Band heats up Cairns during Navy Week
The week’s festivities included a golf day that raised $700 for Legacy and a cricket match between Cairns and the Mayor’s XI

By LEUT Donna Ellem

LSMUSN Jason Beach belts out a hot number for the obvious enjoyment of students at the Djarragun College.

Meanwhile, two young residents get into the action at the HMAS Cairns Open Day on August 17 with sausage sizzles, demonstrations, boat rides and face painting ensuring fun for all.

The close ties between the people of Cairns and the RAN were strengthened recently when HMAS Cairns (CMDR Niel Wark) celebrated its biggest Navy Week ever.

After a two-year absence, the popular Base Open Day was held on August 17 as the centrepiece of the week of activities. More than 1200 people flocked to the base over three hours to enjoy tours of HMA Ships Ipswich, Melville, Tarakan and Benalla, representing the four classes of ship that call Cairns home.

Open day activities included boat rides and face painting for the kids, performances by the RAN Band Victoria Detachment, a sausage sizzle, survival at sea, First Aid, Use of Force demonstrations and hydrographic and weapons displays.

CMDR Wark said the open day allowed the Navy to thank the community in the Cairns region for its long-standing support.

“Navy Week allows us to showcase the important role that the 850 men and women of HMAS Cairns - Navy, Defence civilian and civilian contractor - perform in maritime operations,” he said.

Navy Week continued with performances at local schools by the RAN Band detachment, which proved particularly popular with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Djarragun College at Gordonvale.

The band performed a concert for Cairns residents in Fogarty Park on The Esplanade and supported the HMAS Cairns Beat to Quarters and Ceremonial Sunset at the same park.

COMAUSNAVSYSCOM, CDRE Russell Crane and leading Cairns business, local government and community leaders, attended the HMAS Cairns Navy Week Reception, which also featured a Beat to Quarters and Ceremonial Sunset.

With the base turning 21 this year, CMDR Wark and the youngest sailor, ABBM Sarah Goldsworthy, cut a birthday cake on the reception night.

Other events included a golf day that raised $700 for Legacy, a cricket match between HMAS Cairns and the Mayor’s X1 (won by the Mayor’s team), lawn bowls with the senior citizens and touch rugby against local teams, including the Queensland Police (won by HMAS Paluma).

The week ended with the annual Navy Week Ball held at Brothers Rugby League Club.

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