AABC Association - Executive Committee 

President: Gordon Lambie OAM, CSM
Grad Dip App Mus  

Enlisting in the Army as an Apprentice musician in 1978,  Gordon went on to enjoy a  long and distinguished career in Military Bands, initially as an instrumentalist and later as an Officer Commanding / Music Director.

After an initial 12 year period as a soldier musician with postings to Canberra, Adelaide, and Melbourne Gordon attended the Band Officer Course at the Defence Force School of Music studying under some of our Corps’ great mentors, including the late Robert Rosen. Graduating in June 1991, and in receipt of the Percy Grainger award for Best All-Round Student Band Officer, Gordon commenced his career in Defence as a Music Director filling positions in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne.  It was while posted as OC Melbourne Band that Gordon was also  ‘double hatted’ as pseudo OC DFSM, a position that was not able to be filled at the time. He was later appointed as the Corps’ Operations Officer, Commanding Officer of the Defence Force School of Music, and then culminating in 2012 with his appointment as the Director of Music – Army, later to become the inaugural Commanding Officer of the Australian Army Band. 

For his services to Defence Music Gordon has received a Service Commendation, and has been recognised twice in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, most recently being awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2014.

Gordon left full time service with Defence on completion of his appointment as Commanding Officer of the Australian Army Band after 38 years’ service and relocated back to Melbourne.  He maintains his links into Defence in a Reserve capacity working for the Office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Force on various projects as they arise including Defence’s support to the Centenary of Anzac program, the 2016 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Melbourne, and most recently the 2018 Australian Invictus Games in Sydney, and during 2016 -17 delivered training in foundation conducting studies to the Band Officer Course at the Defence Force School of Music.

Time permitting, Gordon still enjoys playing trumpet - a passion that has never waned. Having performed with the great Ray Charles, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Julie Anthony, Rhonda Burchmore, Gene Pitney, and many more, performance has, and will always continue to be his second love – Carolin being his first.

Gordon accepted the appointment as President of the Australian Army Band Corps Association in October 2017.

Vice President: Dave Oakley

Dave Oakley was born in Peterborough South Australia and enlisted in the Australian Army in June 1972. After Basic Training and Corps Training at Balcombe, Victoria Dave was posted to Southern Command Band in October 1972.

In 1974 Dave was posted to North Queensland Army Band (NQAB) in Townsville where he was one of the first woodwind players posted to that unit.  During that posting Dave was promoted to Corporal and travelled with the band all over Queensland and Thursday Island.

In June 1982 Dave was posted to 4th Military District Band in Adelaide.  Dave was promoted to Sergeant in 1983 and Staff Sergeant QMS in 1986. During the Adelaide posting Dave travelled to the UK, Greece, Crete and New Guinea. 

In 1993 Dave retired and joined the Australian Army Band Adelaide (AABA) as a Reservist until 2000.  In 1996 Dave was awarded the Australia Day Medallion for outstanding contribution to the AAB Adelaide.

Since retiring from the ADF Dave has worked as a Sheriff’s Officer and in various ICT roles travelling all around Australia and East Timor. 

At present Dave works in PC Support for the South Australian State Government and is the Data Base Manager for the AABC Association.

Secretary: Christopher Martin

Christopher was born in Perth, Western Australia and enlisted into the Australian Regular Army as a direct entry musician in 1978. After basic training at Kapooka, he was posted to the Second Military District Band in Sydney. Christopher spent 11 years in Sydney rising to the rank of Sergeant. In 1989, he was posted to the Royal Military College Band Duntroon, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 1991, Christopher was posted back to the Australian Army Band Sydney and in 1993 was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two and appointed the Band Sergeant Major. In 1995 Christopher was posted to the Defence Force School of Music in Melbourne as the Wing Sergeant Major of the Advanced Training Wing and in 1998, he was again posted back to the Australian Army Band Sydney as the Band Sergeant Major and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One in 1999.

In 2001, Christopher was posted to the Australian Army Band Melbourne as the Band Sergeant Major and during that year was also appointed as the first Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army Band Corps and in 2002 was commissioned to Captain and appointed as the Training Development Officer at the Defence Force School of Music.

In 2006, Christopher was posted to the Directorate of Music and appointed as the Staff Officer Grade Two to the Australian Army Band Corps. During that year he was appointed as the Operations Officer for Joint Task Force 636 during Operation Acolyte (Melbourne Commonwealth Games).  Also, in 2006 Christopher received two commendations.  Firstly, from the Commander Training Command for his outstanding performance in support of Staff Officer Grade Two Operations; duty as the Training Development Officer; Melbourne Commonwealth Games and planning the logistics of the inaugural Army in Concert. The second commendation was received from the Commander Joint Task Force 636 (Melbourne Commonwealth Games).

In 2007, Christopher was posted to the Defence Force School of Music as the Adjutant. In 2008, he was posted to the Australian Army Band Tasmania as the Officer Commanding / Music Director. In 2010 Christopher was again posted back to the Defence Force School of Music as the Operations Officer. Christopher’s last posting in the regular army was to the Defence Command Support Training Centre in Melbourne as the Employment Category Manager for the Australian Army Band Corps.

In January 2018, after 40 years’ service in the Australian Regular Army, Christopher was discharged and transferred to the Army Reserve, where he took up the position of Staff Officer to Head of Corps, Australian Army Band Corps. In January 2019, Christopher was promoted to Major. Christopher is currently serving in the Army Reserve as the Officer Commanding, Australian Army Band Perth.

Career highlights include; Independence Celebrations of Papua New Guinea; Royal Guard Duties at Buckingham Palace; Pilgrimage of Australian Defence Force World War One veterans to the Western Front; multiple deployments to the peace keeping operations in Bougainville;, tour to the People’s Republic of China; Gallipoli Dawn Service in 2000; involvement with the Sydney Olympic Games and receiving the Federation Star in 2019.

Christopher currently lives in Mandurah with his wife Rachel-ann who was also a member of the Australian Army Band Corps. During quiet times, Christopher is a professional Cricket Umpire and mentors AFL junior umpires.

Treasurer - Sue Baxter-Winch