Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2079 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

HMAS Stalwart's ceremonial guard conducts a ceremonial sunset at the ship's official reception during its inaugural port visit to Geraldton, Western Australia. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Sergeant Gary Dixon.

News Royal Australian Navy

Stalwart’s ceremonial homecoming

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1642 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, Fleet Base West, Freedom of Entry, HMAS Stalwart, HMAS Supply

HMAS Stalwart last month visited its ceremonial home port of Geraldton on Western Australia’s Batavia Coast for the first time.

Plant Foreman Australian Army soldier Corporal Greg McKenzie from 6th Engineer Support Regiment during Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program 2022 at Gapuwiyak, in the Northern Territory. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Petersen.

ADF People

Digging AACAP at Gapuwiyak

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1360 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Army Reserve, Australian Antarctic Division

At 63, 6th Engineer Support Regiment plant foreman Corporal Greg McKenzie has experienced a wide variety of careers encompassing supermarket

Australian Army soldier Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment uses spare materials to enhance the living quarters of AACAP 2022 contingent members living at Camp Birt near Gapuwiyak, on June 22. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

ADF People

Carpenter fulfills calling at AACAP

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1526 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

With both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan is excited to be deployed on his first Army

HMAS Parramatta arrives at Busan Naval Base during her visit to the Republic of Korea while conducting a regional presence deployment. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Relationship with South Korea reinforced

29/06/202230/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2033 Views 0 Comments HMAS Parramatta, Republic of Korea

Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta and its ship’s company received a warm welcome to Busan, South Korea recently. CAPTION: HMAS Parramatta arrives

Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Smith inspects the Navy Indigenous Development Program graduates during their graduation parade at Munro Martin Parkland, Cairns. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton . Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

News Royal Australian Navy

Indigenous program graduates inspire others

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1663 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, Navy Indigenous Development Program, RAAF Townsville

After five months of hard work and determination, the members of class 17 of the Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP)

Retired Australian Army officer and artist Mike Armstrong stands in front of a photograph he produced as part of a photographic exhibition titled 'Voices of Veterans' at the National Press Gallery in Canberra. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People Lest We Forget Veterans

Exhibition a voice for veterans

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1701 Views 0 Comments PTSD, Veterans Care

Death by “a thousand cuts” was how veteran, and recently retired Army signals officer, Mike Armstrong described his PTSD. CAPTION:

Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill and Sergeant Steven Banks, from the School of Armour, present WW2 veteran, 101-year-old Bertram (Bert) Sutton, with an Aussie Hero Quilt at his home in Numurkah, Victoria.

ADF People History Veterans

WW2 veteran honoured with hero quilt

29/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2040 Views 0 Comments Aussie Hero Quilts, School of Armour, WWI, WWII

World War 2 veteran, Private Bertram (Bert) Sutton, has been honoured with the presentation of a hero quilt by the

Aircrew from No. 1 and No. 6 squadrons on the flightline at RAAF Base Darwin in the Northern Territory during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Storm passes to reveal gems of instructors

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2064 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, F-35A Lightning II, No. 4 Squadron, No. 88 Squadron, P-8A Poseidon

The largest Royal Australian Air Force Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) to date, which culminated in Exercise Diamond Storm 2022,

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning ll departs from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes friend and foe in Storm

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2242 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, F-35A Lightning II, Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Tindal

The ‘enemy’ enjoyed an advantage on Exercise Diamond Storm 22, with No. 75 Squadron flying F-35A Lightning II aircraft from

Commanding Officer HMAS Ararat Lieutenant Commander David Martinussen watches RFNS Savenaca complete a replenishment-at-sea approach during a combined patrol on Operation Solania 2022.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Sailors build friendships at sea and on land

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2296 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Ararat, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

HMAS Ararat earlier this month completed a joint maritime patrol with Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca. Ararat

Sergeant Troy Wyley stands at the front gate of the Multinational Forces and Observers South Camp on Operation Mazurka in South Sinai, Egypt. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

ADF People

Sniper’s sights set on improving skills of others

24/06/202203/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1891 Views 1 Comment Multinational Force and Observers, Operation Mazurka

Far from an infantry battalion back in Darwin, sniper supervisor Sergeant Troy Wyley is applying his steady hand to training

Aircraftman Samuel Forsberg from No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit, checks the AN/TPS-77 Tactical Air Defence Radar System antennas at Timber Creek during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Flight Lieutenant Robert Hodgson. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miiller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Control and reporting units complete the picture

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2216 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 CRU, No. 41 Wing, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Williamtown

In the complex and congested battlespaces of Exercise Diamond Storm 22, aircrew rely on tactical command and control units to

The RAAF's newest F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrive at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Two F-35A arrivals brings fleet to to 50

22/06/202223/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2378 Views 2 Comments Exercise Black Flag, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, US Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of F-35A Lightning II aircraft continues to increase, with two more aircraft arriving at

The water tank mural at RAAF Base Wagga’s aviation heritage precinct. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Revamped aviation heritage precinct opened

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2006 Views 0 Comments No. 100 Squadron, RAAF Centenary, RAAF Wagga Aviation Heritage Centre, RAAF Wagga Wagga

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Wagga’s aviation heritage precinct was officially reopened on June 8 following extensive redevelopments. CAPTION: