Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Evacuees from Mallacoota are transported to HMAS Choules. Photo by Petty Officer Helen Frank.

Anniversary of Mallacoota evacuation

16/01/202116/01/2021 Mike Hughes 294 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

When bushfires cut off a coastal Victorian hamlet, “the largest civilian maritime evacuation in our nations history” was launched 1 year ago.

Captain Doug Theobald presents a Fleet Commander silver commendation to Able Seaman Sarah McDonald at an awards ceremony held at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Photo by Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

Submariner awards recognise achievements

16/01/2021 Mike Hughes 367 Views 0 Comments

The achievements of Navy’s Submarine Force in 2020 were recognised at the submariner awards at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. CAPTION:

The first six recipients of the Australian Service Medal for Operation Bursa with the Commander Fleet Air Arm Commodore Don Dezentje, centre. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

ADF Australian News Operations Royal Australian Navy Veterans

Retrospective medals for Fleet Air Arm

16/01/202117/01/2021 Mike Hughes 1054 Views 0 Comments

Navy’s Fleet Air Arm has been recognised for its contribution to Operation Bursa with the awarding of the Australian Service

One of the Air Force's newest C-130J Hercules aircraft loadmasters, Corporal Jordyn Luck, is joined by the first-ever female loadmaster, Mrs Katrina Salvesen on board a 130J Hercules at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Passion leads to becoming first female loadmaster

14/01/2021 Mike Hughes 530 Views 0 Comments

When the role of loadmaster was opened to women, retired Warrant Officer Katrina Salvesen seized the opportunity to take on a more

Army Chaplain Rick Tilden and Air Force medic Leading Aircraftwoman Nicole Anchen provided support after a helicopter crash in Egypt. Photo by Ben Dempster.

ADF ADF People News

Pair provide mental health support after helicopter crash

13/01/202114/01/2021 Mike Hughes 305 Views 0 Comments

Two Australian personnel deployed with Joint Task Force 633 (JTF633) late last year provided mental health support to Australian and

A No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster lifts off from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales, taking aerial fire retardant to Western Australia. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Globemaster delivers fire retardant to Western Australia

12/01/202112/01/2021 Mike Hughes 347 Views 0 Comments

The ADF has supported the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services by delivering urgently needed fire retardant from NSW.

Connor Nish, left, and 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, soldiers Private Callum Nish, Private John Koronui, Corporal Paul Kohlhagen and Private Tom Mackney remove branches from Myrie McPherson’s backyard.

ADF ADF People Australian Army Veterans

Soldiers blitz widow’s backyard

12/01/2021 Mike Hughes 410 Views 0 Comments

Army reservists from the 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment (41RNSWR), rolled up their sleeves on December 12 to

Seaman Shanen Pulkkinen is one of 14 gap gear-trained personnel re-joining Navy for three months to provide additional personnel over the stand-down period.

ADF People Australian News Royal Australian Navy

Lapsed gap year sailors back to support operations

12/01/202113/01/2021 Mike Hughes 434 Views 0 Comments

After Seaman Shanen Pulkkinen’s participation in the ADF Gap Year program ended in 2017, she intended to come back to

Last year was an unprecedented year with bushfires and a global pandemic, but the ADF was up to the challenge of supporting Australia, while continuing its core role. Photo by Leading Seaman Kieran Dempsey.

ADF Australian History News Operations Overseas

ADF up to the challenges of 2020

12/01/202112/01/2021 Mike Hughes 467 Views 0 Comments

Last year was difficult and disruptive for our nation and was a defining year for Defence. FILE PHOTO: By Leading Seaman

Corporal Mitchell Webster, left, Joel Palmer and Corporal Aaron Bartlett competing in the 2020 Cyber Warrior Challenge.

ADF ADF People Middle East Operations Science & Technology

Cyber teams put their skills to the test

12/01/202112/01/2021 Mike Hughes 268 Views 0 Comments

A team from Australia’s Joint Task Force 633 (JTF633) in the Middle East placed third in the region and sixth

ADF personnel in the Middle East prepare a load of COVID-19 test kits for delivery to Afghanistan. Photo by Sergeant Ben Dempster.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Middle East Science & Technology

COVID-19 test kits sent to NATO operation

10/01/2021 Mike Hughes 281 Views 0 Comments

About 200 COVID-19 test kits were sent to Kabul for use by coalition forces following a spike in coronavirus cases

Royal Australian Air Force Corporal Vanessa Bunker in Egypt.

ADF ADF People Middle East Royal Australian Air Force

Peacekeeping an opportunity to serve with pride

10/01/2021 Mike Hughes 261 Views 0 Comments

A strong family connection to service was the driving factor for Corporal Vanessa Bunker’s military career. CAPTION: Royal Australian Air

ADF cyclist Major Paul Watson placed 5th in the hill climb event held as part of the Australian Parliament Sports Club’s Recognition Sports Festival.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Sporting chance to honour those on front line

09/01/2021 Mike Hughes 178 Views 0 Comments

ADF members last month took part in a sports festival that honoured all those who have been on the front

Former Wing Commander Robyn Clay-Williams (retired) reflects on her time in the Air Force as a test pilot. Photo by Sergeant Rob Hack.

ADF ADF People Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Testing times for pioneer pilot

09/01/202109/01/2021 Mike Hughes 368 Views 0 Comments

When former Wing Commander Robyn Clay-Williams joined the Air Force in 1979, she was told there were no female pilots.

Major General Cheryl Pearce welcomed by an Honour Guard provided by the mission’s Mobile Force Reserve.

ADF Australian Army News Operations Overseas

A milestone deployment complete

07/01/202108/01/2021 Mike Hughes 245 Views 0 Comments

Major General Cheryl Pearce has completed a milestone deployment to Cyprus as the first Australian Commander of the UN Peacekeeping

ADV Cape Inscription Navigation Officer Lieutenant Rhys Worboys and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority officer Dwaine Butcher in front of Reef Ranger, a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service vessel.

ADF ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Navy joins effort to stop illegal reef fishing

07/01/2021 Mike Hughes 412 Views 0 Comments

The Navy joined the effort to stop illegal fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park recently. CAPTION: ADV Cape Inscription

Squadron Leader David Wilkinson in front of his creative writing wall as part of the ARRTS 20.1 program. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Thought provoking

Haiku helps healing

07/01/202108/01/2021 Mike Hughes 176 Views 0 Comments

For Squadron Leader David Wilkinson the choice of creative stream in the 2020 Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills

Mascot of the 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion Corporal Toby Tebiass. Photo by Sergeant Gayle Walkom.

ADF Australian Army History

Weighty issue for mascot

06/01/202123/01/2021 Mike Hughes 505 Views 0 Comments

In the year of social distancing and working from home, 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion’s mascot Corporal Toby Tebiass faced

Major John Whipp, back right, supervises close combat drills with soldiers from the 7th Combat Brigade during his visit to the Gallipoli Barracks Combatives Centre, Brisbane. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing History

Old-school moves make a comeback

06/01/202106/01/2021 Mike Hughes 419 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from 7th Combat Brigade training on the Army Combatives Program were shown how hand-to-hand combat was done in the

Dr Sylvie Perreau, with the 2020 Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science. Photo by Megan Popelier.

ADF People Science & Technology

Signal of achievement

06/01/2021 Mike Hughes 421 Views 0 Comments

Defence scientist Dr Sylvie Perreau was presented with the 2020 Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science on December 11