Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Anzac Day didgeridoo player, Australian Army Warrant Officer Class Two Lachlan Youll at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkiye. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Indigenous soldier’s tribute at Anzac Cove

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 571 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, Indigenous

Just before dawn on Anzac Day on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkiye, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Lachlan Youll played

Lieutenant Barton Heeney, of Fleet Aviation, and Lieutenant Jacqui Heeney, of Fleet Cyber Unit, at Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System during Exercise Bersama Shield 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Romeo pilot and wife go phishing on honeymoon

07/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 739 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

Newlywed lieutenants Barton and Jacqui Heeney put the honeymoon on hold when they found out they’d be deploying to Malaysia

Major Deta Kerschat receives his Federation Star from Major General Ash Collingburn. Story and photo by Captain Cody Tsaousis.

ADF People Australian Army History

Forty years of experience and memories

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 724 Views 0 Comments

Five uniforms, eight boots, four packs and five rifles – Major Deta Kerschat has seen a lot of change in

ADF Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral Justin Jones, left, speaks with Colonel Craig Solomon of the PNG Defence Force during a visit to Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

International debut for Talisman Sabre

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 702 Views 0 Comments Exercise Talisman Sabre, PNGDF

Australia’s largest military exercise will be making its international debut, with Papua New Guinea hosting elements of Exercise Talisman Sabre

Australian Army soldiers from 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, prepare to engage during the counter-landing live-fire exercise at Campong Ulay as part of Exercise Balikatan in Palawan, Philippines. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photos by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian Army News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Soldiers ready for real-world challenges

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 919 Views 1 Comment 5/7 RAR, Exercise Balikatan, HIMARS

Australian Army soldiers worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Philippine and United States marines to dig in at the beachfront at Rizal, preparing

The NT ADF men's team holds the 2025 Anzac Shield with Commander 1st Brigade, Brigadier Doug Pashley, and Assistant Commissioner Matthew Hollamby, of the NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services, at TIO Stadium 2, Darwin. Story by Captain Nicholas Marquis. Photos by Corporal Madhur Chitnis.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Annual charity match raises money for Legacy

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 505 Views 0 Comments

In Darwin, dragonflies mark the start of the dry season. CAPTION: The NT ADF men’s team holds the 2025 Anzac Shield

ADF medical personnel take part in the Joint Project 2060 Phase 3 Operational Testing and Evaluation of a new Role Three Minus, a deployable health capability at Ipswich, Brisbane. Story by Eamon McCaughan. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Army and Air Force health set for upgrade

06/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1005 Views 0 Comments 3rd Health Battalion, health services

Army and Air Force health support is set to receive improved definitive care capability, providing soldiers and aviators with access

Personnel use an Australian Army M1A2 Abrams from 2nd Cavalry Regiment to provide security during the D Squadron raising ceremony at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville. Story by Captain Brittany Evans. Photo by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

Australian Army News

2 Cav Regt gets second tank squadron

01/05/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2342 Views 5 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

The Australian Army says it has consolidated its heavy armour capabilities in Townsville, in a significant move to bolster operational

HMAS Stuart during the sunrise off Western Australia while deployed for ASWEX. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

News Royal Australian Navy

ASWEX wraps up off WA

01/05/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1915 Views 0 Comments ASWEX, HMAS Arunta, HMAS Hobart, HMAS Stuart

The Royal Australian Navy’s largest and most complex antisubmarine exercise in more than a decade, ASWEX, has now concluded off

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond accepts a cheque on behalf of Keeping Watch, for $100,000 from Navy Health at Russell Offices, Canberra Story by Lieutenant Commander Naomi Deignan.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Donation supports Navy families

01/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1161 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Keeping Watch Fund

In an ongoing show of support, Navy Health recently donated $100,000 to Navy’s own charity, Keeping Watch. CAPTION: Chief of

Captain Tahali Thomas lays a wreath at Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, Türkiye commemorating 100 years of the formation of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Story and photo by Captain Edward Pym.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Corps centenary commemorated at Gallipoli

01/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 687 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Standing beneath the slowly brightening skies over Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, Captain Tahali Thomas of the

HMAS Sydney's boarding team conducts boarding training on the Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Terengganu during Exercise Bersama Shield 2025. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Bersama Shield strengthens Five Powers capability

01/05/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1031 Views 0 Comments Cyber Defence, Exercise Diamond Shield., HMAS Sydney

It was mission accomplished for the multinational defence of Malaysia and Singapore during Exercise Bersama Shield, from April 7-22. CAPTION:

Participants in the Officers' Training School 75th anniversary parade stand to attention. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF Officers’ Training School salutes 75 years

01/05/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 678 Views 0 Comments Officer Training School (OTS), RAAF East Sale

Officers’ Training School celebrated its 75th anniversary last month with a special event at Royal Australian Air Force Base East

Australian and New Zealand personnel form the catafalque party for the dawn service at Anzac Cove on Gallipoli Peninsula. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army Ian Cavanough Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Shared spirit that’s more than a memory

30/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 716 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli

Standing on the shore of Anzac Cove on Anzac Day, Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather, along with other Australian and New

Gunner Jake McKean and Gunner Fergus Eastaugh assess the trailer-mounted UAV recovery system during Exercise Chimera Walk at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. Story and photos by Captain Tadek Markowski.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Gunners test new eyes in the sky

30/04/202504/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1047 Views 0 Comments 20th Regiment, Exercise Chimera Walk, Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (TUAS), Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

The ADF’s Tactical Uncrewed Aerial Systems (TUAS) program came into sharp focus during Exercise Chimera Walk at the Shoalwater Bay

Warrant Officer Class Two Greg Mills, Private Jacinta Watson's mother Genia Otuszewski, and Lieutenant Colonel Rachael Ayoub cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Private Jacinta Watson Bridge at Greenbank Training Area. Story by Lieutenant Fenlan Miller.

ADF People Lest We Forget

Bridge named in honour of digger

30/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 492 Views 0 Comments

The life of Private Jacinta Watson has been commemorated at Greenbank Training Area, with a new bridge opened and named

Soldiers from 7th Brigade march down Adelaide Street during the Anzac Day 2025 parade in Brisbane. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News

Signallers in the Anzac spotlight

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1160 Views 0 Comments 7th Brigade, ANZAC Day, Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Members from across Navy, Army and Air Force took part in Anzac Day commemorations in Brisbane on April 25, paying

Lance Corporal (retd) Kevin Booth with his grandson Lieutenant Kaleb Booth, of the 10th Force Support Battalion, pose together after the Mandurah RSL parade. Story by Captain Joanne Leca.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Soldier returns home for Anzac Day

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 566 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, ANZAC Day, Vietnam War

On October 19, 1968, in the dense jungle of northern Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam, 2 Platoon had just set an

Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force personnel combine for the Anzac Cove dawn service. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Australia and New Zealand join forces at Gallipoli

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 677 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Governor-General of Australia, Lone Pine, NZDF, Turkey

ADF and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel supported three parades in the Anzac Day 2025 commemorations at Gallipoli. CAPTION: Australian

Able Seaman Francis Piccin, of the Royal Australian Navy Band, Sydney, at Amiens Cathedral in France. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

One song unites two worlds

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 609 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, France, Royal Australian Navy Band

As the last notes echoed through Amiens Cathedral in France, Musician Able Seaman Francis Piccin stood with quiet pride, his