Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Seaman Sebastien Schultz and Seaman Jack Woolmer on their first international port visit on board HMAS Sydney in Pearl Harbor. Photo by Able Seaman Jasmine Mood.

Serving in HMAS Sydney a family tradition

13/04/202116/04/2021 Mike Hughes 111 Views 0 Comments

Seaman Jack Woolmer is the fourth generation of his family to serve in a Royal Australian Navy ship bearing the name Sydney.

Air Force personnel remove flood-damaged items from local homes and streets in Port Macquarie during Operation NSW Flood Assist. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force grounded for flood clean-up

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 180 Views 0 Comments

With tasks piling up in regional NSW following the one-in-100-year flooding, 51 members of the Air Force were called in

Soldiers remove debris from a flood-damaged property in Taree. Photo by Corporal Sagi Biderman .

Australian Army News Videos

Hard work recognised

09/04/202109/04/2021 Mike Hughes 209 Views 0 Comments

The commander of the ADF’s support to the flood recovery efforts in NSW, Brigadier Mick Garraway, has praised the work

Captain Mark Beretta, left, Major Cameron Stephenson and Lieutenant Colonel Reg Crawford (retd) took part in this year’s Tour de Cure cancer charity ride.

Australian Army News

Soldiers up to Tour de Cure challenge

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 155 Views 0 Comments

Two serving Army officers and a retired officer rode their bicycles 1000km in seven days to raise money for cancer

Lance Corporal Rebecca Baxter from the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment adjusts the prototype female heavy-webbing harness and belt on Private Jessica Russell from the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment. Photo by Captain Kristen Cleland.

Australian Army

Women fitted to fight

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 435 Views 0 Comments

Women’s roles in combat are taking another step forward with the development and trialling of combat equipment and uniforms designed

Corporal James Milne from the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, right, with Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Private Seruwaia Kovakova, front, and Lance Corporal Apimeleki Nabati during urban training. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Fijians join Aussie soldiers for urban training

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 159 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) have joined Australian infantry soldiers from Army’s 7th Combat Brigade for

Private Sireli Levukaiciwa from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces gives Kava to the Commanding Officer of 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel John Eccleston. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.

Australian Army News Pacific

Ceremony welcomes Fijian soldiers

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 141 Views 0 Comments

Welcomes don’t come much warmer than the one given by the 7th Combat Brigade to 37 soldiers and officers from

Sailors with Neil and Gwen Mcleod after clearing debris from their flood-damaged property in Scotts Head, NSW. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

News Royal Australian Navy

Fighting and winning ashore

09/04/202112/04/2021 Mike Hughes 132 Views 2 Comments

From the first response with aircraft flying from HMAS Albatross to personnel on the ground in the NSW mid-north coast,

Members of HMAS Sirius’ ship's company wave to the crew of Royal Malaysian Navy ship KD Lekir in the Andaman Sea. Photo by Leading Seaman Thomas Sawtell.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Malaysia and Australia replenish relationship

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 111 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Sirius conducted a series of exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy corvette KD Lekir in the Andaman Sea, and

HMAS Sirius sails in company with frigates INS Kiltan of the Indian Navy and FS Surcouf of the French Navy, in the Bay of Bengal during Exercise La Perouse.

News Royal Australian Navy

Aussie ships impress on French-led exercise

09/04/202110/04/2021 Mike Hughes 232 Views 0 Comments

HMA Ships Anzac and Sirius made an immediate impact with their international counterparts in the French-led Exercise La Perouse in

HMAS Sirius conducts a replenishment at sea with USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photo by Leading Seaman Thomas Sawtell.

News Royal Australian Navy

Sirius has a day to remember

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 118 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Sirius has completed one of its biggest ever Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with the 100,000-ton Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS

HMAS Melville departing her home port of Cairns to conduct hydrographic survey work in the Bass Strait.

News Royal Australian Navy

Survey work to make navigation safer

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 103 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Melville has returned to her home port of Cairns after a six-week deployment completing survey work in poorly surveyed

Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill, attached to the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, with his platoon help residents clean up after the flood at Laurieton.

ADF People

Flood clean-up work is ‘rewarding’

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 79 Views 0 Comments

Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill understands the power of water. CAPTION: Lieutenant Kurt O’Neill, attached to the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, with

A Lancaster bomber of 463 or 467 Squadron RAAF over England in 1945. File photo.

History Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Top 10 Iconic RAAF Aircraft – 8: Avro Lancaster

08/04/202109/04/2021 Mike Hughes 171 Views 0 Comments

As the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated its Centenary on 31 March 2021, they have compiled their Top Ten most

Claire Withrington at her Royal Military College - Duntroon appointment ceremony in Brisbane.

ADF People History

Fourth generation to join the Army

08/04/202114/04/2021 Mike Hughes 176 Views 0 Comments

Wynnum local Claire Withrington is following a well-worn path to lead others in the Australian Army. CAPTION: Claire Withrington at

The RAAF Roulettes fly under the sun. Photo: Mike Hughes.

Personal stories

RAAF Centenary airshow – a locals viewpoint

06/04/2021 Mike Hughes 253 Views 0 Comments

Organising and then running an airshow is a daunting and frustrating task and if the stars align and the wind

Corporal Kate Fox, left, Sergeant Fiona Jackson and Flight Lieutenant Susan Coretti treat a simulated patient during an Aeromedical Evacuation Training Exercise on board a C-17 Globemaster III. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Saving lives in the sky

06/04/2021 Mike Hughes 235 Views 0 Comments

A simulated medical emergency played out thousands of feet above Queensland in a C-17A Globemaster III has tested the expertise

The Gallipoli Barracks Garrison Family Day will have various entertainment options for Defence members and their families. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News

Gallipoli Barracks Garrison Day to thank families

06/04/2021 Mike Hughes 174 Views 0 Comments

Gallipoli Barracks will hold a Garrison Family Day on Sunday April 18 to thank loved ones of Defence members and help

Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment prepare to enter a compound during Exercise Dingo Fury at Townsville Field Training Area. Photo by Corporal Brendon Grey.

Australian Army News Videos

Sappers tackle technical training

06/04/2021 Mike Hughes 248 Views 0 Comments

Sappers from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment have tested their technical skills in the field environment during Exercise Dingo Fury in

Alan and Janice Hunt stand in front of flood damaged possessions in Lower MacDonald, NSW. Photo by Corporal Sagi Biderman.

ADF

Flood-affected couple thankful for support

06/04/2021 Mike Hughes 161 Views 0 Comments

For elderly Lower MacDonald residents, Alan Hunt, 86, and Janice Hunt, 79, seeing members of the ADF assist with removing