There’s more to this public service town than grey suits and lanyard accessories, so after knock-off, office-workers are casting off their suit-jackets and ties to let loose at Dept of Rock.
You can’t get much more Canberran than a democratically-voted, public sector battle of the bands comp – no red tape, just red-hot rock.
Mild-mannered IT workers are plugging in their electric guitars, not modems, and pen-pushers are writing prose, not policies.
The best part is, there’s no panel interview, no-one cares what APS level you are, and no previous rock experience is required.
Such is the demand by punters to witness the wild alter-egos of sedate public servants, this annual public sector bash has sold out all three heats at Smith’s Alternative in Civic. Heat four is shaping up to be the same.
As a former public servant, I fondly remember the marathon meetings, cryptic acronyms and waist-deep bureaucracy, but also the burning desire to, well, cut loose from the strict Federal Government Style Manual.
Dept of Rock offers a real-life look at the human (and humorous) side of the APS, behind the official-looking facade of the ACT and Federal Governments.
Probably nowhere else in Australia – nay the world – do you get a Federal Minister plugging in an amp with the hoi polloi, just like Arts Minister Tony Burke did last year.
His band “Left Right Out” whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their cover of AC/DC’s Long Way to the Top – complete with bagpipes.
Who knows, maybe DJ Albo (aka Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) will ditch question time and turn up to vote at next month’s semi-finals. His shout.
Self-appointed Madam Secretary of Department of Rock, Leanne Thompson, said that this was the comp’s third year and amateur bands were vying for a gold record trophy and Dept of Rock glory (no EL1 promotion sorry).
“I do have ACT Minister for the Arts, Michael Pettersson locked in as a judge for this year’s grand final – so there will be some ministerial vibes in the room,” Leanne said. “I have two other departmental secretaries on board to judge in the semis and ACT Greens MLA Jo Clay.
“It’s great to have high profile supporters like (actual) secretaries and pollies but I always come back to the main thing which is the musicians … No doubt some of these bands will weave hilarious public service satire into their sets.”
The only selection criteria: you must be a public servant (or a recently retired one). Job description: flex-time your inner rock god.
Who said Canberra was dull?
Up to 20 public service bands have entered this year to shed ergonomic keyboards and shred guitar.
“One my favourite things about Dept of Rock is seeing people on stage for the first time having an absolute blast,” Leanne said.
Heat four is 7pm Tuesday 28 October, followed by semi-finals in November and the grand final in December at Smith’s Alternative in Civic. Dept of Rock is on Facebook with links to tickets.
