Posted by Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

Lieutenant Catherine Gerrard stands in front an ARH Tiger at 1st Aviation Regiment, Robertson Barracks, Darwin. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Nicholas O’Connor.

Army engineer shoots for the stars

12/05/202312/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1496 Views 0 Comments

A lightbulb moment at university paved the way for a smooth transition into Army aviation for 1st Aviation Regiment’s learning

Australian Army soldiers with 144 Signals Squadron train for combat during Exercise Hermes Recon at the Murray Bridge Training Area, South Australia. Photo by Sergeant Adam Barlow.

Australian Army News

Signalers relish return to training

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2285 Views 0 Comments

144 Signals Squadron returned to training for combat in the field after several years of providing a high level of

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Craig and Private Paris Plate cut the birthday cake at the celebration of the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps' 80th anniversary. Photographer unknown. Cake, lost when photo cropped to fit formatting, digitally replaced in photo by CONTACT.

ADF People

RAADC’s crowning achievement

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1496 Views 0 Comments RAADC, Royal Australian Army Dental Corps

Members of the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps (RAADC) gathered in Sydney to mark the corps’ 80th birthday last month.

Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Mitchell Morton pushes his students during a physical training class at South Camp of the Multinational Force and Observers on Operation Mazurka in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Combat Wombat kicking ass on Mazurka

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1696 Views 0 Comments Multinational Force and Observers, Operation Mazurka, Sinai

They call him the ‘combat wombat’, resembling the stout, sturdy marsupial – stocky in build with the ability to travel

Sous chef Prince Pullapalli instructs a cooking class to Operation Accordion personnel at Australia’s operating base in the Middle East. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Recipe for friendships in the Middle East

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1376 Views 0 Comments Operation Accordion

Catering staff are not only feeding ADF personnel in the Middle East but helping them to spice up their cooking

Australian Army personnel from 13th Brigade participate in the 2023 Run Army event at Kings Park, Perth. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

ADF People

Run Army breaks records in its third year

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1344 Views 0 Comments Run Army

Soldiers and members of the community combined to make this year’s Run Army event the biggest yet, with more than

The launch of the Office of Defence Industry Support (ODIS) branch in Brindabella Business Park, Canberra, 2021. Photo by Lauren Larking.

News Sovereign industry

ODIS hits the road for SME forums

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1569 Views 0 Comments Office of Defence Industry

Australian businesses have been turning up in record numbers to learn more about becoming a Defence supplier since the Office

Squadron Leader Dawson Schuck (centre left) from ARDU, donates the old ARDU hangar sign to the President of the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) Nigel Daw (centre right), during a SAAM visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh. Photo by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF heritage lives on at SAAM

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2507 Views 0 Comments SAAM, South Australian Aviation Museum

RAAF Base Edinburgh has hosted a tour for volunteers from the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) to say thank you

Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Christopher Smith salutes after laying a wreath during the HMAS Westralia 25th year Memorial Service at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.

News Royal Australian Navy Veterans

Tragic fire on HMAS Westralia remembered 25 years on

10/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3219 Views 0 Comments HMAS Westralia

The heroic actions of the crew on board HMAS Westralia 25 years ago were remembered at a memorial service at

Their Majesties The King and Queen travel past Parliament Square in the Gold State Coach, flanked by 18 representatives of the Commonwealth, including Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Tegan Ross and Bombardier Michael Nona from Australia’s Federation Guard (second in line on both sides). Photo by AS1 Ryan Murray RAF. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023.

ADF People

Majestic moment marching alongside royal coach

08/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2265 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

On one of the biggest days of their lives, 22-year-old Corporal Tegan Ross and 28-year-old Bombardier Michael Nona did not

Australia’s Federation Guard conduct a National 21 Gun Salute to honour the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the Forecourt of Parliament House, Canberra. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela

ADF News

Australia salutes new King

07/05/202308/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2459 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was marked in Australia today with a national 21

Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Tegan Ross from Australia's Federation Guard with representatives from Commonwealth countries escort the Gold State Coach during the Procession following the Coronation of King Charles III. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

ADF People News

ADF in the King’s Coronation Procession

07/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3680 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

The Australian Defence Force took great pride in their place in the Coronation of their Majesties King Charles III and

Lieutenant Sarah Lucinsky conducts a route plan on Operation Mazurka. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

A missing link inspires lieutenant

07/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1859 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day 2023

Lieutenant Sarah Lucinsky was honoured to stand on the same land her grandfather and two great-uncles fought on during World

Australian News Science & Technology

New agency and new regulator to deliver nuclear submarine program

07/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2848 Views 0 Comments Defence Strategic Review, Nuclear Powered Submarines

The government will establish a new agency and a new regulator as part of its commitment to delivering Australia’s conventionally

HMAS Anzac's Lieutenant Christopher Colalillo takes ranges during Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres with Republic of Singapore Navy RSS Vigliance (centre) Royal Malaysian Navy KD Lekir (right) and KD Gempita (left) during Exercise Bersama Shield 23. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarryd Capper.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Exercise Bersama Shield 2023 underway

07/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3198 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

Exercise Bersama Shield, the maritime element of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), began in seas off Malaysia recently. CAPTION:

Australian Army soldier Gunner Wright, the youngest serving member of the 20th Regiment RAA is presented with the first brevet by Brigadier Damian Hill at the 20th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery brevet presentation ceremony at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane.

Australian Army News

Arty drone pilots get their wings

07/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 12972 Views 6 Comments

A parade in Brisbane this week saw the historic presentation of the first aviators’ brevet to soldiers and officers of

PTSD unmasked – subject Trooper David Nicholson – makeup by Ambah de Smet – photography by Justin Marshall, JM Photography.

Poets Corner

FEW COME BACK

06/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7844 Views 0 Comments By Tomas 'Paddy' Hamilton

I WATCHED THEM, NO LONGER YOUNG, THOSE WHO ANSWERED THE CALL A SOBER, SOMBER REMINDER, THE ONES WHO GAVE

Lieutenant Daniel Cochrane with the Merlin HM2 he flies on exchange with Royal Navy 820 Squadron in the United Kingdom.

ADF People

Two Aussie fliers looking forward for Coronation flyover

06/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2180 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

Weather permitting, two proud Australians are scheduled to fly over Buckingham Palace in a flypast involving 68 aircraft to mark

Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Tammy Vaughn from the Australian Federation Guard during a rehearsal for the Coronation of His Majesty The King, at Buckingham Palace. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

Honoured to be part of history

05/05/202307/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1772 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

Able Seaman Tammy Vaughn’s Nan will be watching the TV closely this weekend as her granddaughter marches through the streets

Australian Army soldier Gunner Adam Leclerc with Australia’s Federation Guard during a rehearsal for the Coronation of His Majesty The King, at Buckingham Palace, London. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

From Rye to royal duties

05/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1524 Views 0 Comments Coronation of King Charles III

Marching into Buckingham Palace Gardens in London, Gunner Adam Leclerc was a long way from his family home in Victoria.