Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Papua New Guinea Defence Force Sapper Lawrence Turalom on site during Exercise Puk Puk at Goldie River Training Depot in Papua New Guinea. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Sergeant Nunu Campos.

Australian Army News

Career fuels sapper’s dream

19/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1539 Views 0 Comments Papua New Guinea, PNGDF

Ask Sapper Lawrence Turalom what he wants to achieve from his career in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)

Jessie Strike-McClelland and Flight Lieutenant Justin Kelly with her 100th Birthday gift from the Australian Embassy at San Clemente Villas by the Sea, California. Story by Leading Aircraftwoman Cath Kelly.

ADF People History Veterans

Dedicated servicewoman celebrates centenary

19/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1476 Views 0 Comments WWII

World War 2 Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) veteran, Jessie Strike-McClelland, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 23. CAPTION:

Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Quadrupedal Uncrewed Ground Vehicles are displayed at the 2022 Land Forces expo. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

ADF News Sovereign industry

Expo showcased dogs of war

14/10/202219/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2202 Views 0 Comments 7th Combat Service Support Battalion, Land Forces Conference, Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO)

They’re nicknamed robot dogs, but the mechanical movements of Army’s quadrupeds walking around Land Forces don’t prompt warm feelings like

Displays at the 2022 Land Forces expo in the Brisbane Convention Centre. Story and photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Autonomous systems on display at expo

14/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1962 Views 0 Comments Land Forces Conference

Everything from cannons to missiles, and vehicles to simulation systems were on display at Land Forces 2022. CAPTION: Displays at

Led by the mutinous Captain Blackbeard, HMAS Perth crew show their pirate spirit to raise money for the Pirate Ship Foundation and childhood brain cancer research.

ADF People

Commander walks the plank for charity

14/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1979 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth

HMAS Perth took on a pirate ship persona as part of a charity event before embarking on an Indo-Pacific deployment.

Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Mathan Sundaramoorthy works at his station on board a P-8A Poseidon aircraft during a maritime security mission while deployed on Operation Sea Guardian in Sicily. Story by Lieutenant Anthony Martin. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

ADF People

Aussie aviator patrols the Mediterranean

14/10/202216/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2138 Views 0 Comments NATO, No. 11 Squadron, Operation Sea Guardian, P-8A Poseidon

It’s not often that an ADF member spends the day flying over some of the most famous sights in the

Captain Sung Huh from the 3rd Brigade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Bombardier Guy Sadler.

ADF People

South Korean lateral transfer a first

14/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 6018 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, Republic of Korea

Captain Sung Huh is the first Republic of Korea (ROK) Army officer to undertake a lateral transfer to the Australian

Squadron Leader Steve Cook, back left, a paramedic, Leading Aircraftwoman Hayley Edwards, front left, and Flying Officer (now Wing Commander) Kim Davey carry a Bali bombing victim from a C-130 Hercules. Story by Flight Lieutenant Suellen Heath and Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Sergeant Troy Rodgers.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force

Bali bombings 20th anniversary: resilience meets tragedy

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2299 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan

On October 13, 2002, a small team of Air Force personnel thought they were embarking on a standard aeromedical evacuation

Air Force Indigenous Youth program participant Tallira Hopkins tries on the firefighter uniform with firefighter Leading Aircraftman Ray Solinas at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Suellen Heath. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force

A chance to live the life of an aviator

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2229 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Indigenous Youth Program, MV-22 Osprey, RAAF Amberley, US Air Force

On their last day, 15 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who got to live the life of an aviator

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conduct small boats familiarisation training with Royal Solomon Islands Police Force personnel in Gizo, Western Province, Solomon Islands as part of Exercise COASTWATCHERS II. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvhill.

Australian Army News Pacific Videos

Maritime partnership on show in Solomons

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2226 Views 0 Comments 2RAR (Amphib), Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Fourteen officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) completed a boat-handling course with Army’s 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian

Commander Fleet Air Arm Commodore David Frost, left, Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley and Commanding Officer HMAS Albatross Captain Robyn Phillips come together for the signing of the scroll. Story by Midshipman Jordan Moloney. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

News Royal Australian Navy

Preparing for a medieval tradition

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1735 Views 0 Comments Fleet Air Arm, Freedom of Entry, HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell

Fleet Air Arm, HMAS Albatross and HMAS Creswell personnel are preparing to conduct a Freedom of Entry march through the

RAAF logistics specialist Sergeant Sheridan Kelly stands in front of a RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in Italy, during Operation Sea Guardian 2022. Story by Lieutenant Anthony Martin. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

ADF People

Overseas logistics a welcome challenge

12/10/202212/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1665 Views 0 Comments No. 11 Squadron, Operation Sea Guardian, P-8A Poseidon

Ensuring a military aircraft has sufficient stores and equipment can be a full-time task with multiple services to coordinate. CAPTION:

Leonard McLeod visits a memorial garden at Kokoda Army Barracks. Story by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

ADF People History Veterans

Return to Canungra evokes memories of service

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1510 Views 0 Comments C-47 Dakota, Canungra, WWI, WWII

Despite watching his father die from respiratory problems after being gassed in WW1, a young Leonard McLeod was determined to

Private Lauren Dam deployed on Exercise Coastwatchers to support small boats familiarisation training with members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

ADF People

Medic brings love of league to the Solomons

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1907 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

If Army medic Private Lauren Dam gets another opportunity to deploy to Solomon Islands, she has promised to return with

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Hendel, an anaesthetist and reservist from the 3rd Health Battalion in Adelaide, has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship for his civilian role as a trauma specialist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. Story by Captain Andrew Page. Photo by Michelle McFarlane.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Medical officer to use fellowship to improve trauma skills

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1369 Views 3 Comments 3rd Health Battalion, Army Reserve

An Australian Army Reserve anaesthetist has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship for his civilian role as a trauma specialist at

Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle in the front seat of an EC-135 helicopter at Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 1000. Story by Sub Lieutenant Jess Gould. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

News Royal Australian Navy

Flying in the fast lane at Bathurst

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1598 Views 1 Comment Bathurst 1000, EC-135, Tickford Racing

Tickford Racing driver Thomas Randle experienced a ‘hot lap’ of a different kind at the weekend at Bathurst 1000. CAPTION:

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman, right, congratulates Air Vice Marshal Steve Edgeley on receiving his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Also in attendance was Air Vice Marshal Edgeley's wife, Pippa Edgeley. Story by John Noble. Photo by Flight Sergeant Kev Berriman.

ADF People

A scholar and a gentleman

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1891 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force

The academic credentials of Air Force have received a boost with the determination and focus of one of its senior

Marissa Bond, chief technology officer, and Thomas Hastwell, chief commercial officer, at Lumination's offices in Adelaide.

ADF News Sovereign industry

Company shines light on innovative training

07/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2243 Views 0 Comments Defence Innovation Hub

Lumination, an Adelaide-based company specialising in bringing classroom lessons to life using immersive technologies, is working with the Defence Innovation

Australia's first MQ-4C Triton aircraft poses for its first official portraits after emerging from the Northrop Grumman Palmdale paint booth. Photo by Alan Radecki, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Media Services.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Australia’s first Triton rolled out

07/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2219 Views 0 Comments MQ-4C Triton, P-8A Poseidon, US Navy

Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System was rolled out in September as part of a partnership between the

HMAS Stalwart sails into Timor-Leste during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022. Story by Captain Lily Charles. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

A first for Stalwart on deployment

07/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2255 Views 0 Comments HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Arunta, HMAS Hobart, HMAS Stalwart, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Timor-Leste

HMAS Stalwart has completed its first visit to a foreign port while deployed in support of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE22).