Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

500 Matilda Poppies

18/02/2020 Lisa Robson 102 Views 1 Comment

CONTACT fan crochets 500 Matilda Poppies for her local RSL – then 500 more for another – to remember the 500 souls lost to veteran suicide.

The 2020 Australian Invictus Games team at the team announcement, Victoria Barracks, NSW. Photo by Leading Seaman Jayson Tufrey.

Australia’s 2020 Invictus Games team announced

18/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 240 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games 2020

The combined ADF, RSL and Veteran Sport Australia team that will represent Australia at the 2020 Invictus Games was officially named in Sydney today.

The Vietnam Memorial in Canberra. Photo by Laura Larking.

Australian News Veterans

National service for Op Hammersley 50th

17/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 181 Views 0 Comments

A national service to commemorative the 50th Anniversary of Operation Hammersley will be held tomorrow, 18 February 2020.

HMAS Hobart departs Fleet Base East, Garden Island, for the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Certification Period, 2020. Photo by Able Seaman Benjamin Ricketts.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy

Navy begins first major exercise for 2020

17/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 379 Views 0 Comments Fleet Certification Period

Four warships left Sydney today to begin the sea phase of the Royal Australian Navy’s first major exercise for the year – Fleet Certification Period 2020

CONTACT BLOG SPOT Sir Jeffrey Armiger

I’m confused by ministerial press releases – again!

17/02/202017/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 519 Views 0 Comments Rheinmetall Boxer CRV

In November 2018, two ministers announced a sod-turning Today, two new ministers claim their government is handing over the building to its owner.

Skyborne Technologies' 40mm-armed Cerberus GL fires a grenade during a demonstration for the US Army. Company-video screen-grab.

Australian News Technology Videos

SE Qld company demos 40mm-armed man-pack drone to US Army

16/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 1675 Views 0 Comments

Skyborne Technologies successfully demonstrated their 40mm-armed Cerberus GL to the US Army as part of the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment.

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams fires in bushland at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland.

ADF Australian News Technology

Army buys more autonomous mobile target systems

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 345 Views 0 Comments

Deakin University will deliver more robotics-driven target systems to the Australian Defence Force, supporting nearly two dozen Australian small businesses.

Corporal Travis Ward, 6RAR, loads a G-Wagon with debris at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, NSW. Photo by Corporal Dan Pinhorn.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

6RAR clearing a path to regrowth

14/02/202014/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 233 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens, sadly devastated by a bushfire in early January, got a serious injection of manpower from 6RAR.

Lieutenant Colonel Renee Kidson updates Major General Justin Ellwood, left, and TNI Lieutenant Colonel Teddi on the work being conducted by troops at the Zig Zag Railway. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

Asia Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

Indonesian zig-zag Bushfire Assist

14/02/202016/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 426 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Devastated by two fires in the past seven years, Australia’s iconic Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow, NSW, is benefiting from support of Indonesian military friends.

Chaplain Derek Croser with Jodie Meikle, Steven Childs – and 'the bed'.

Australian Australian Army News Operations

RAEME mafia steal farmer’s bed in dead of night

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 3754 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Army was recently thanked for successfully completing a very unusual midnight raid in front of bushfire-enemy lines on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Bombardier Jarrod Logan launches a Wasp AE from a paddock 20km south of Canberra to survey blazing scrub in the Orroral Valley. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos

Wasp uses waterbomber downtime to help plan next attacks

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 247 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Bombardier Jarrod Logan launches a Wasp AE unmanned aircraft from a paddock 20km south of Canberra to survey blazing scrub in the Orroral Valley.

Leading Aircraftwoman Tiarne Westland helps with the removal of hazardous trees near Batlow, NSW.

Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAFie axewoman has more quals than she ever dreamt of

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 521 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Five years into her ADF career, Leading Aircraftwoman Tiarne Westland has more construction and destruction qualifications than she ever dreamt of.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers carry a component of a temporary medium girder bridge installed at Buchan Caves during Operation Bushfire Assist. Photo by Leading Seaman Kieran Whiteley.

Australian Australian Army News Operations Pacific Uncategorized Videos

International team builds bridges communities get over

14/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 166 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Two bridges constructed by the Australian, Fijian and PNG militaries will improve access to a popular tourist attraction in the wake of the bushfires.

Jan-Maree Ball, of Aussie Hero Quilts, presents Colonel Ota Masashi with a laundry bag at a farewell barbecue for members of the Japan Self-Defense Force. All contingent members were presented with the Aussie Hero Quilts special gift. Photo by Corporal Casey Forster.

Asia Australian News Operations

Japan’s Hercules farewelled

13/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 358 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Hercules crews from Japan carried more than 600 passengers and 25,000kg of cargo and equipment during their stay in Australia

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Technology

SAAB Combat Management Systems for all RAN surface ships

13/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 252 Views 0 Comments

Saab has signed an agreement with Defence to provide combat management systems across all Royal Australian Navy major surface ships.

A New Zealand soldier and NZLAV on patrol in north-east Bamyian province, Afghanistan. NZDF photo.

Middle East News Operations Overseas

Rule change forces NZDF tender for range clearances in Afghanistan

13/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 360 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has been forced by rule changes to carry out new clearances of firing ranges used by its PRT in the Bamyan province Afghanistan earlier this century.

Ipswich resident Rene Cabourdin observes one of the many aircraft on display during his visit to the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Joanne Larsen.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans What's on...

Amberley Aviation Heritage open day 1 of 2020

12/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 195 Views 0 Comments

Wheels, wings and other exciting things will provide a great day out for the public at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre public open day.

Senator Jacqui Lambie speaking in the Senate, 11 January 2020.

Australian News Veterans Videos

Lambie ‘names-and-shames’ DVA ‘desk jockey’ for bullying psychiatrist

12/02/202012/02/2020 Brian Hartigan 6216 Views 2 Comments

Senator Jacqui Lambie has named and attacked a senior DVA exec whom she said threatened a psychiatrist for marking diagnoses too high in favour of veterans.