By
SGT Ben van den Akker
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Moyna
Sands with CO RAAF Central Band Flight Lieutenant Steve
Wright and Warrant Officer Attilio Celata.
Photo by CPL Ian Haines
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WORLD
War II WAAAF veteran Moyna Sands was the RAAF Central Band’s
special guest at the Victorian Arts Centre’s Celebrating
the Anzac Spirit, an emotion-charged concert in the lead up to
Anzac Day.
CO RAAF Central Band Flight Lieutenant Steve Wright invited Moyna
to take part in the concert in recognition of her long association
with the band and service organisations.
Taking centre stage at the prestigious Melbourne Concert Hall,
Moyna fought back emotions as she spoke about the Anzac spirit
to a large attentive audience. “It means a lot to me personally.
My father was an Anzac, and my brothers were in the Navy. Anzac
stands for freedom and pride in a country worth fighting for,”
she said.
Moyna’s association with Air Force music began when she was
posted for a special course at No. 1 Engineering School, Melbourne
Showgrounds, Ascot Vale. Falling ill, she was placed on light
duties and assigned to assist the education officer who was also
the band officer of the No. 1 RAAF Band.
Learning of Moyna’s experience in the media, the Education
Officer tasked her to research the origins of musical compositions,
profile composers and compere morale-boosting concerts for the
troops. “These proved so successful that, when I was well
enough to resume full duties, the education officer arranged for
me to remain with him and the band,” Moyna said.
In the 1980s, Moyna worked on the committee for the RAAF Central
Band’s highly acclaimed RAAF in Rhythm concerts. An active
member and staunch advocate of the RAAF Association, she continues
to work tirelessly in helping younger generations recognise the
efforts and sacrifice the men and women of the Air Force have
made and continue to make for Australia.
