Crowd gives credit where it’s Dew

LAC John Collinson and CPL Roxanne Dew march off the MCG after their performances. Photo by Getty Images

By SGT Ben van den Akker

PERFORMING in front of a crowd of more than 62,000 at the Anzac Day clash at the MCG is daunting enough for the players, let alone a musician.

The RAAF Central Band’s vocalist, Corporal Roxanne Dew, sang the national anthem to the packed crowd before the traditional AFL contest between Collingwood and Essendon.

CPL Dew has shared the stage with some of Australia’s leading performers and has featured at most of RAAF Central Band’s concerts, but she admitted she had never “experienced anything like this”.

“The unbelievable response from the crowd that erupted after my last note left me with an excitement I really can’t describe. It was just awesome,” she said.

Vocal talent runs in CPL Dew’s family. Her sister Simone sings with the Australian Army Band Corps and had the honour of singing the anthem at last year’s game.

The pre-match ceremony also included the mounting of a catafalque party made up of personnel from the ADF School of Signals followed by the playing of the Last Post, performed by RAAF Central Band Bugler Leading Aircraftman John Collinson.

LAC Collinson said he was “honoured to represent the Air Force in remembering Australia’s fallen in such a way.”
Before the ceremony both CPL Dew and LAC Collinson took part in the pre-match entertainment provided by RAAF Central Band under the direction of Flight Lieutenant Steve Wright.

The RAAF and the MCG have a history dating back to World War II. A RAAF technical training unit was housed at the MCG between November 1942 and January 1943 and the RAAF No.1 Personnel Depot was established there from 1943-45.

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