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CONTACT magazine

Author: Posted by Brian Hartigan

Australian Army soldier Lance Corporal Declan Bowditch from the 1st Armoured Regiment, performs maintenance on an M134D minigun remote weapon station attached to a modular robotic vehicle during Exercise Talisman Sabre at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.
Letters to the Editor 

Loyalty or Apathy: Which is Relevant?

20/09/202520/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1806 Views 1 Comment

There was so much public outrage over the cost cutting proposal to merge the Royal Marines with the Parachute Regiment,

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Editor's Vlog 

Building a shield wall

20/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1601 Views 2 Comments Make-n-Do

This week I’m building a shield wall in the basement. The purpose of this is to shield the workshop from

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Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment during the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.
Letters to the Editor 

Cambrai Day: Why is a tradition, a tradition?

16/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1988 Views 0 Comments

“SHAME: To make someone feel ashamed; to lose honour and respect; the uncomfortable sensation caused when it seems that we

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Four MH60R Romeo Seahawk helicopters from the Royal Australian Navy's 725 Squadron and 816 Squadron fly overhead Blamey Square, Russell Offices, Canberra. ADF photo by Kym Smith.
Thought provoking 

Reflections on integrity and influence in Army Headquarters

15/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2442 Views 2 Comments

A candid reflection on the cultural dissonance between the tactical edge and Army Headquarters, exploring what it means to stay

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Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart addresses the audience at the Chief of Army Symposium 2024 in Melbourne, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Cameron Pegg.
Letters to the Editor 

White Lies, Pork Pies, and Whoppers

15/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2289 Views 0 Comments

How does one get to the truth of a matter when it is constantly hidden behind half-truths? This happens whenever

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Aerial photo of Henderson, Western Australia. Supplied by Ventia.
AUKUS News Sovereign industry 

Billion$ for Henderson upgrade

14/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4940 Views 0 Comments Henderson

The government will provide $12 billion towards delivering a Defence Precinct at Henderson to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and AUKUS

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M1A1 Abrams tanks during the 1st Armoured Regiment's Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.
Letters to the Editor 

How do you cover up the cover up?

13/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2179 Views 0 Comments

The responses to all the letters written to everyone about 1st Armoured Regiment’s tanks being stripped from it and the

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The “different silhouette” of a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter equipped for international flight. RNZDF photo supplied.
New Zealand News Pacific 

RNZAF NH90s complete longest flights over water

13/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4844 Views 0 Comments

For the first time, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) helicopters have flown between two countries, crossing a large swathe

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Video screenshot of a RAAF EA-18G Growler pilot flying through Brisbane CBD during Riverfire 2025.
ADF People News Royal Australian Air Force 

Riverfire from the pilot’s perspective

13/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5034 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

The Australian Defence Force has published some very cool behind-the-scenes footage of their involvement in this year’s Riverfire flypast. ADF

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Editor's Vlog 

Shovelling dirt and fake-building bricks

13/09/202513/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1625 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This video isn’t very exciting (unlike all my other riveting episodes 😉 Yes, I really am just shovelling dirt and

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Letters to the Editor 

Avoiding the Issue and Taking the Easy Option: The RAAC Way?

11/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1372 Views 0 Comments

Will the next Chief of Army (likely to be appointed at the end of 2025) revoke the decision to employ

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Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy at at Fleet Base East in Sydney, inspect a Ghost Shark prototype before announcing the contract with Anduril Australia to acquire a new fleet of Australian designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles – known as Ghost Sharks – for the Royal Australian Navy. ADF photo by Kym Smith.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sovereign industry 

Govt orders “dozens” of Oz-made Ghost Sharks

10/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1346 Views 4 Comments Anduril, Ghost Shark

The government is investing $1.7 billion to acquire a new fleet of Australian­‑designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles –

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Photo by John Jennings
Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force 

CONTACT fan shoots Riverfire and ‘neighbours’ aircraft

07/09/202513/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4288 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

Dear Brian, I just thought that you’d like to see a couple of photos I shot from the Riverfire practice

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An Australian M1A2 SEP v3 main battle tank fires a sabot round during a live fire to confirm the aiming system of the tank at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.
Letters to the Editor 

When Leadership Goes Missing: What do we do?

07/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2347 Views 0 Comments

The following quotes from Major General R N L Hopkins, CBE (author of ‘Australian Armour’), are relevant to the Royal

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Editor's Vlog 

Installing a secret door in the bunker

07/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1814 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This week’s video installing a special/secret door in the bunker is a significant event. It’s a small, old door, but….

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News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF shines at Riverfire 2025

06/09/202506/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4360 Views 0 Comments

A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler, C-17A Globemaster III and, for the first time, a C-27J Spartan conducted flypasts

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News Royal Australian Air Force 

Growler roars through Brisbane on test flight

05/09/202505/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3390 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G ‘Growler’ electronic attack aircraft rehearsed its flying display through the heart of Brisbane today

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Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, patrol through Cowley Beach Training Area during the combined arms training activity. Photo by Corporal Brodie Cross.
Letters to the Editor 

Damage to the RAAC: How Much More Can we Possibly Suffer?

05/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1340 Views 0 Comments

The damage so far: 1 Armd Regt stripped of its tanks and made a non-combatant, losing all crew skills and

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A C-17A Globemaster flies through Brisbane, rehearsing for the 2025 Brisbane Riverfire event. Photo by Christabel Migliorini.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF rehearsing for Riverfire 2025

04/09/202511/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4308 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster rehearsed its flying display through the heart of Brisbane today ahead of the

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ADF News Veterans 

One year since suicide Royal Commission report

02/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1203 Views 0 Comments Suicide Royal Commission

One year on since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report, the Returned &

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