Australian Army Band Corps Association Award

CRITERIA:  The Australian Army Band Corps Association Award is awarded annually to a member of the AABC nominated by the Commanding Officer, Australian Army Band and Head of Corps AABC whose achievements have significantly contributed to the operational effectiveness of the AABC, the morale and esprit-de-corps of its members and enhanced the status of the AABC within the Army and the wider community.

2021 AUSTRALIAN ARMY BAND CORPS ASSOCIATION AWARD

Corporal Laura Jayne Burden

Corporal Burden is posted to the Band of the 1st Combat Brigade as the Cadre Corporal. She is a qualified clarinet player and in previous sub-units has doubled on saxophone when required. Due to the nature of the sub-unit there is often a requirement for cadre staff to perform at parades during hours when the part time personnel are unavailable. With excellent foresight, Corporal Burden has developed side drum skills to fill the capability gap. This is attributed to her outstanding ability to complete the mission and get the job done.

The Cadre Corporal is a demanding and diverse role within the Australian Army Band. Members posted to these roles often work in isolation with broad direction and must show a high level of initiative. Corporal Burden's commitment and extremely efficient manner, provides dedication of the highest degree in a sub-unit that is challenged by what the Head of Corps has previously termed a 'capability mismatch'; that is, a part-time sub-unit supporting a full-time Brigade. Her ability to achieve continuous large volumes ofwork, without additional support is outstanding and admirable. Through her experience in her previous posting as an instructor at the Defence Force Correctional Establishment, she has been able to readily establish herself in an unfamiliar environment, build relationships with external units and civilian agencies, and ably support the extended vacancy of the Band Sergeant Major. She displays a positive and enthusiastic approach to challenging situations and can be relied upon to give frank advice to those senior to her. She puts service before self, with a demanding young family, and often absent serving spouse, and sacrifices her family time to fulfil her duty requirements. Corporal Burden has an outstanding work ethic that enables the unit to be operational and highly effective at all times. Her application to her duties, including additional tasks is exceptional and she is performing well above her current worn rank.

Corporal Burden's professionalism and dedication across her entire role has greatly enhanced the Band of the 1st Combat Brigade, the Australian Army Band and the Corps in the Darwin region.

Corporal Burden displays the highest standards of Army ethos, is committed to continuous learning, and the epitome of a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer. At every opportunity this fine soldier/musician is an ambassador for the Australian Army Band Corps and her service continues in the finest traditions of all previous recipients of this award.


Gordon Lambie, OAM, CSM
President
AABC Association      

8 October 2021

AABC Association Award Recipients 

  • 1993 MUSN Lyndon Jackson - RMC Band

  • 1994 MUSN Paul Young - 1 RTB Band

  • 1995 LCPL Chris Luke - 1 RTB Band

  • 1996 CPL David Cassidy - RMC Band

  • 1997 CPL Richard Box - 1 RTB Band

  • 1998 CPL Adam Moore - AAB Kapooka

  • 1999 CPL Dean Griffiths - RMC Band

  • 2000 MUSN Danny Beaton - AAB Kapooka

  • 2001 SSGT Stuart Colhoun - AAB Sydney

  • 2002 CPL Ray Hingston - AAB Melbourne

  • 2003 SGT Rod Mason - AAB Sydney- Citation

  • 2004 SGT Andrew Heron - RMC Band - Citation

  • 2005 WO2 Rohan Stubbings - AAB Tasmania - Citation

  • 2006 SGT Russell Paynter - AAB Kapooka - Citation 

  • 2007 MUSN James Duquemin - AAB Brisbane - Citation

  • 2008 CPL Andrew Barnet - AAB Brisbane - Citation

  • 2009 SGT Michael Lee - 1 RAR Band - Citation

  • 2010 CPL Greg Peterson - AAB Sydney - Citation

  • 2011 LCPL Justin Kennedy - AAB Kapooka - Citation

  • 2012 SGT Kirsty Janelle Bird - RMC Band - Citation

  • 2013 MUSN Robin Kidney - AAB Darwin - Citation

  • 2014 CPL David Portakiewicz - 10/27 RSAR Band - Citation

  • 2015 CPL David Shuttleworth - AAB Kapooka - Citation

  • 2016 SGT John Mackenzie - AAB Perth - Citation

  • 2017 LCPL Nerrida Jade McCorkell - RMC Band - Citation

  • 2018 MUSN Alex David O'Neill - AAB Sydney - Citation

  • 2019  MUSN Stephen Brock Taylor - AAB Adelaide - Citation

  • 2020 LCPL Jacob Curro - AAB Kapooka - Citation

  • 2021 CPL Laura Jayne Burden - Band of the 1st Combat Brigade (Darwin)

     
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