Past events
Annual Navy Raft Race, March 2007
The Annual Navy Raft Race was held on 7th March in the basin of the Boiler Wharf. Despite the time constraints a team of committed 'Bandies' got together to build, test and race a raft within seven days (Much like the popular television series 'Monster Garage'). The build team consisted of: Team Captain: AMUS Saskia Purllant, Back Rower: AMUS Andrew Lile, Front Rower: AMUS Matt Shone, Gunner 1: AMUS Sarah Hay, Gunner 2: AMUS Louise Emms, Chief Builder: AMUS Moses Sulusi.
Day One 1st March saw the team collaborate and design a prototype raft.
Day Two The team pulled in material necessary to build the raft using a combination of timber and inners tubes (from tractor tyres) supplied by POMUS Liz Lawrence. Thankfully the input from the band Warrant Officer informed the team the plywood timber used would soak up water and break apart. Fortunately Chief Builder Sulusi was once a fabricator/welder and used his contacts to source a metal frame that he welded together.
Day Three: Scheduled test day for the raft. Implemented by the initial rowing team: Lile, Shone, Purllant, Christie and Hay. The test started well, with great speed, however upon manning in shallow water Christie fell through a gap in the raft. This design flaw was amended and re-fabricated over the weekend by M Sulusi. The band had a full schedule for Monday and Tuesday, leaving the final test day on race day!
D-Day was overcast with a patch of rain. We were nervous and eager to see whether the new and improved raft would sink or swim. After a short parade to the starting line of all the rafts and competitors, the initial race team was re-shuffled due to lack of gunners on competing rafts. This meant everyone was going for speed as opposed to attack. We were in the first heat with Shone, Lile, Hay, Emms and M. Sulusi manning the raft. Once the team was in the water and at the start line our fellow Bandies cheering from the sideline were relieved to see the raft float successfully. At the sound of the start signal we immediately accelerated and took the lead. Unfortunately this was only momentary, with SRU overtaking. It was a tight race with distance between each raft of 5-8 meters. In the last 20 meters of the race disaster struck when the left wing of our raft broke away from the main structure, leaving M. Sulusi to use one leg to maintain the raft! Luckily we were able to keep second position, which secured our place in the grand final. M Sulusi sustain injuries while trying to maintain the raft structure, so Team Captain Purllant stepped in to fulfil his position in the grand final.
With minutes to go until the final race, we had to quickly repair the raft. At this point the team was exhausted and could only manage fifth place in the grand final. In the end we were proud with what we had accomplished on our very first raft race and were happy with our overall 5th place out of 12 teams. Consequently, we are looking forward to participating in next year's race.
Champion of the Navy, December 2006
On the 14th of December 2006 the Navy held a tabloid sports day. Starting off with an early morning float competition, the theme being ‘occupations’, the Band and Boatyard put together a ‘freak show’ consisting of bearded ladies, conjoined twins, a tall man, a freaky clown, a cross dressing monster and a random gorilla…….
Once the commotion of the floats died down, it was time for the serious fun.
We moved into the sports. The Physical Training Instructors (PTI’s) were very well organised and inventive with the different events. They ranged from trivia to Pictionary (being the less physical parts of the day) to full blown slip’n’slides, scrambling under cargo nets, blind wheel barrow races, egg throwing and dry Weet-bix eating.
The day was exhausting and hot but extremely fun. The Band and Boatyard worked together as a great team. The hard effort paid off, resulting in 4th place out of the 36 teams entered. We had picked up the pace a little from the previous year (second to last placing). Even though we weren’t in the top 3 placings, the Band and Boatyard were the highest scoring ‘shore-based’ team. We won an almighty trophy, along with a $100 voucher. A great effort and a well rewarded day.
POMUS Lawrence
Wellington Military Pageant, November 2006
On the 2nd and 3rd of November 2006 the Navy Band took part in an intensive rehearsal in order to perform in the Year of the Veteran Military Pageant at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on the 3rd of November.
Logistically, this event was always going to be tricky. With ten musicians in preparation for the Operation Union Jack trip to London at the time, part of the Navy Band travelled to Wellington at 4.00am on the 2nd of November, while those in the London contingent travelled by van from Ohakea Air Force Base the same day. A long day of rehearsal followed, turning into a cold, windy Wellington night. Individual elements of the show were coming together, but we were all grateful for another day of rehearsal with which to fine tune and run the whole show beginning to end.
To give some idea of the scale of the Pageant, there were over 250 musicians including pipers, as well as guns from the 16th Field Regiment, a mock battle, the Lochiel Marching Drill Team, a display by New Zealand Police dog handlers, the Tawa College Choir, several cadets and a hundred man guard. To bring it all together in just two days was a huge undertaking, and the final product was immensely enjoyed by the 5000 audience members, as well as those who watched the broadcast on television.
AMUS Lile
To see more photographs of the Navy Band visit our photo gallery.