By Graham Davis
Independence
Day band an Aussie Success
(MPEG video 2.00 MB)
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ABCK
Benny McNeil performs during Independence Day celebrations.
On backup guitar was ABWTR Matt Cunningham.
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Photo:
ABPH Brenton Freind
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There
has been some early success for RAN members taking part in RIMPAC
2004, now under way in and around Hawaii.
Two musicians and members of the ship’s company fleet oiler HMAS
Success, linked during the two-week voyage across the Pacific,
formed the group “Essemblic” and went on to win the “RIMPAC Battle
of the Ships’ Bands.”
ABCK Benny McNeil and ABWTR Matt Cunningham were then invited
to play at the Fourth of July Independence celebrations at Pearl
Harbor.
Dressed in colourful Hawaian shirts each strumming his acoustic
guitar, and with Benny providing vocals, the young musicians from
“Down Under” wowed the crowd. The RIMPAC Battle of the Ships’
Bands competition was just part of the RIMPAC lead-up activity
program.
Many of the Australian 850 sailors, soldiers and airmen and women
who have gone to RIMPAC were also involved in competition sport.
They tested their skills against members of the eight other nations
taking part in the exercise. Sports such as golf, tennis, squash,
rugby and ten-pin bowling were contested.
Navy News is told the CO of HMAS Parramatta, CMDR Mike Noonan
did well in squash (full sporting results in our next edition).
As this edition of the paper was going to press HMA Ships Newcastle,
Parramatta, Success and Rankin had departed Pearl Harbor for the
main focus of RIMPAC - the warfighting phase.
ADF assets and personnel are joining 11,000 sailors, airmen and
women, marines, soldiers and coastguard personnel from eight nations
for the June 29 to July 27 exercise.
There are 35 surface ships, seven submarines and 90 aircraft bringing
together defence forces from seven Pacific Rim countries, Australia,
Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, Republic of Korea and the US, along
with the UK.
