THE Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has flown two cultural performance groups from Solomon Islands to Australia to perform at the largest ever Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney.
The 21 dancers, drummers and their support team were flown from Honiara to Sydney on 12 October for the event.
The performance group is a combination of traditional dance groups from the northern region of Malaita province, comprising a male panpipe dance group (Fula’aro) and a female dance group (Faeini).
The female dance group features a mother (Bladina) and her four daughters (Suzzie, Placida, Madlyn and Betty).
Both groups have previously represented Solomon Islands in local, regional and international festivals.
Solomon Islands is one of the Pacific nations involved in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo event, along with Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was created in Scotland in 1950 to showcase military and civilian acts from around the world.
More than 1,520 military musicians and cultural groups from across 13 nations will come together from 17-19 October for performances at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
ABC Australia will film the Tattoo and broadcast it in the Solomon Islands in early December.
The Australian Defence Force is providing ceremonial and logistical support to the Pacific nations, flying performers to and from Australia.
