Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

Flight Lieutenant Aimee McCartney stands before her painting titled ‘Nawu’ - one of the many traditional artworks now on display at her first solo exhibition in Melbourne.

Artist blends colours and culture

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1094 Views 0 Comments

While Flight Lieutenant Aimee McCartney may not be a household name in the Australian art world, there’s little doubt her

The flame is lit by a torch bearer as the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay begins in Albany, Western Australia, to begin its six-month journey across Australia. Photo by Private Reece Oakes.

Centenary torch lights up in Albany

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1294 Views 0 Comments Legacy

Legacy’s Centenary Torch Relay arrived in Albany, Western Australia, on 3 May at the start of its six-month journey across

An MH-60R helicopter fires a laser-guided rocket off the NSW south coast during Exercise Tigerfish 2023. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

News Royal Australian Navy

Choppers hone sub-hunting skills

05/05/202305/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1383 Views 0 Comments Exercise Tigerfish, MH-60R Seahawk

Navy’s anti-surface and submarine-hunting warfare helicopters provided valuable training for aircrew and maintainers during Exercise Tigerfish. CAPTION: An MH-60R helicopter

Private Barnabas Koloamatangi speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Richard Thapthimthong after graduating from the School of Infantry Initial Employment Course, Singleton.

ADF People

Bright future for Tongan soldier

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1310 Views 0 Comments School of Infantry

A young Tongan soldier has completed a challenging infantry course with the Australian Army, and now has big plans for

Australian Navy's Able Seaman Akshay Gomez-Jackson, a network technician from HMAS Stirling, deployed on Operation Accordion. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Jumping ship for desert deployment

05/05/202305/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1153 Views 0 Comments

A lot of work goes in to making sure a deployed network is up and running, but for Able Seaman

Australian personnel (and their Commonwealth counterparts) were presented with a military coin to commemorate their participation in the Coronation of His Majesty The King, at Army Training Centre Pirbight, UK. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

Commemorative Coronation Coin in thanks for participation

05/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1874 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

Britain’s Defence Services Secretary, Major General Eldon Millar, has thanked Australian and Commonwealth troops taking part in the Coronation Procession

Combat engineer Sergeant Kieron Day, armament technician Corporal Bethany Magner and clearance diver Chief Petty Officer Ben Beck discuss unexploded ordnance. Photo by Corporal Randall Costello

ADF People

Diversity gives training more bang for its buck

05/05/202305/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 842 Views 0 Comments Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School, DEOTS

The Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School (DEOTS) at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills is a true joint workforce, with unit members

Victoria Cross Recipients Corporal Daniel Keighran, Corporal Mark Donaldson and Keith Payne in front of the home of the Victoria Cross Roll of Honour, the Union Jack Club, London. Photo Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People Veterans

Aussie VCs in England for Coronation

05/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2365 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

Victoria Cross recipients Corporal Mark Donaldson and Corporal Daniel Keighran, in London for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles

Australia's Federation Guard members march with the Commonwealth contingent into Buckingham Palace gardens during a night rehearsal for the King's Coronation. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

ADF People

Pride shines on London’s dark streets

05/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 851 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

With their path lit by the streetlamps of London, 4000 military personnel marched down The Mall in a midnight dress

Leading Aircraftman Zachary O’Sullivan with Australia’s Federation Guard during a rehearsal for the Coronation of His Majesty The King, at RAF Odiham, UK. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

Once-in-a-lifetime experience

05/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1182 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

On his first overseas tasking as an ADF member, Leading Aircraftman Zachary O’Sullivan will be one of 4000 military personnel

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

New anti-ship missile protection for Aussie ships

05/05/202305/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2811 Views 0 Comments MASS, Rheinmetall

The Australian government has committed $180million over the next five years to modernise the anti-ship missile defence capabilities on Royal

Air Vice-Marshal Leon Phillips. Photo by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.

ADF News Sovereign industry

New head of GWEO Enterprise announced

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2937 Views 0 Comments GWEO Enterprise

The government today appointed the inaugural head of the new Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. FILE PHOTO: Air

Midshipman Jin You takes ranges to ADV Cape Naturaliste from HMAS Broome during officer-of-the-watch training. Photo by Able Seaman Elise Cowley.

Royal Australian Navy

Mastering nerve-wracking naval manoeuvres

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1252 Views 0 Comments

Junior Navy officers had the chance to apply their ship-handling training in the Timor Sea while deployed on Operation Resolute.

Evacuees from Port Sudan on board buses after departing the Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft at Cyprus. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

News Operations Rest of World Royal Australian Air Force

Operation Carnelian – military-assisted evacuation from Sudan

05/05/202305/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 13639 Views 1 Comment Operation Carnelian

In followup to our story of of 3 May, the ADF has now released more details of the evacuation mission

Explosive-ordnance-disposal robots built by Brisbane-based company L3Harris Micreo. Photo supplied.

ADF News Science & Technology

80 new EOD robots for the ADF

04/05/202304/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2273 Views 0 Comments

Defence has signed a $46 million contract with a [Queensland-based subsidiary of a multi-national company*] to manufacture up to 80

Members of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) participate in the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Poets Corner

Leave ANZAC Day Alone

03/05/202303/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7061 Views 0 Comments By George Mansford

A very special sacred day to salute our fallen from the first to the last To reflect on glorious deeds

A vehicle mechanic from the Special Operations Task Group’s (SOTG’s) Combat Service Support Team (CSST) undertakes repairs on an all-terrain vehicle required by special-forces soldiers. Photo by Lieutenant Aaron Oldaker.

ADF News

BRIBES – $50k retention bonus and home-purchase support

03/05/202303/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4939 Views 5 Comments Defence Strategic Review

Some Australian Defence Force personnel could be eligible for a $50,000 bonus payment for ongoing service, as part of a

A worker on the production line examines a freshly forged 155mm artillery-shell casing at the Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions factory in Maryborough, Queensland. Photo supplied.

Australian News Sovereign industry

First exports shipped from Queensland munitions plant

03/05/202303/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4162 Views 3 Comments Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions

Defence manufacturer Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions’ Queensland artillery shell plant is growing exponentially as it takes another important step towards full-rate