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AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CADETS
3WG BAND
NEWSLETTER 3
Good Afternoon All!
Welcome to the 3WG Band Newsletter number 3! It has been a very busy time since we last
sent an email out! I hope all had a great Anzac Day! I know it was a huge day across 3
Wing, and the AAFC. I believe it was a record breaking number of cadets marching in the
Sydney parade, which was incredible to see!
Musician Vacancies
We still have some vacancies for the band! The response so far has been overwhelming,
and has surpassed my wildest expectations!
We still have no confirmed French Horn, Bass Clarinet or Tuba players. If any of our existing
players can ‘double’ on these instruments, let me know as we may be able to swap some
players around to allow for full instrumentation.
So far we have received the Register of Interest form from 31 players, and waiting on
another 6. Granted that not every player will be able to attend the Musician’s Course, it is still
a great number and will allow for a full band and a great Musician’s Course!
I have heard rumour of some of our AAFC staff members that are also musicians. If you
know of any, please feel free to let them know we have a 3WG Band being formed in case
they haven’t heard about it!
Update on Musicians Course
The course is 95% locked it. We are just waiting on the GST’s to be finalised before kicking
the Musicians Course off! The moment this course is on C1, I’ll email you all and look
forward to seeing lots of nominations!!
At this stage the course is scheduled to be held at RAAF Richmond from the 4th to 11th July
2015 (book the date in your calendar!!), which is the same time as the GST. All
accommodation and messing will be at Richmond, and we have a rehearsal venue, so we
won’t be losing valuable rehearsal time due to travel.
End of Course Performances
I am hoping to be able to have a couple of end of course performances to showcase our
skills and show the results of our course. I am hoping to do a performance for the GST
cadets and also a formal concert at an off-base venue so all your families can attend!
Promotion Courses
As you know, the July school holidays are also when 3WG will be holding JNCO / SNCO /
CWOFF promotion courses. Can each cadet please reply to me and advise me if they are
also nominating for promotion courses during this time. The same for any flying courses etc.
This will not discount you from the band, but simply give us an idea on who might be
attending the July Musician’s Course.
AAFC Musicians Badge
For those who may not know, there is an AAFC Musicians Badge
(pictured).
To qualify for this badge, cadets need to “Member of an AAFC Band or
Drum Corps Flight and must have completed an approved band or drum
course and parade at least 75% of the Band or Drum Corps parades”
This means that if we undertake 2 Musicians Course’s during the year, and 2 ceremonial
parades (such as a promo parade or Ashfield parade), by completing one Course and 2
performances you will qualify for the badge. There aren’t many of these around, and I have
never seen one of a 3WG cadet!
Unit Patch
I would love to see the band get a unit patch! This will have to wait after a musicians course
or two to determine what flight we are part of. Here are the 2WG Band patches. If anyone
has an idea for a patch for the 3WG Band, I’d love to hear it!
Music Lyres
For those that haven't seen one, a music lyre is a clamp device that clips onto your
instrument that holds march music (see pictures below). Some brass instruments may
already have a slot for them (small square opening with a screw that tightens into it).
They aren't expensive, around $10.00 to $15.00 each. All players will need one, except our
double reed players as we generally don’t march with double reed instruments.
Your local music shop should have them, or can order them. If you don't have any luck, we
have arranged a deal with Coastal Music in Port Macquarie who can get them for us. But
there will be postage costs if you want them before the musicians course (so you can check
that it fits correctly). Flutes players, there are some flute lyres strap to your left wrist, but they
can wobble around a bit. There are also flute lyres that clip to the instrument which are more
stable when marching.
Facebook group – 3 Wing AAFC Band
We have set up a Facebook group for the 3 Wing AAFC Band. This group has a number of
players already in it, and we would love to see more of the band players join this group. This
group allows you to get to know each other in an informal manner while still observing
military courtesies. The AAFC Social Media policy does apply to all members when
participating in this group.
Next steps
Stay tuned for further information. We will endeavour to send out information regularly
regarding the 3WG Band.
If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas or suggestions, please feel free to contact
FLGOFF(AAFC) Simon on 0408 486 859 or [email protected]
Kind Regards,
Ben Simon
FLGOFF(AAFC)
3WG Band
312 SQN
0408 486 859
[email protected]
Music around the AAFC Here are a couple of photos that I have seen pop up on Facebook recently.
A picture of part of the 2WG AAFC Band during the Brisbane Anzac Day Parade. This was
the first time that the 2WG Band participated in this parade. There is definite plans to do
combined Musician’s Courses with the 2WG AAFC Band in the near future!
Reviewing Officer Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Bartholomeusz, OAM chats to members on parade
during the No 7 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets Trophy Parade at RAAF Base Pearce.
This was the hand over parade of the Air Force Trophy from 3WG AAFC to 7WG AAFC.
Pictured are some members of the 7WG Drum Corps