Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

RAAF Corporal Zac Simpson lines up the ball during the 2023 Australian Country Championships in Shepparton. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photos by Leigh Momk.

Sticking it out on the pitch

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1147 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

Defence field hockey teams clashed with some of the nation’s best at this year’s Australian Country Championships in Shepparton. CAPTION: RAAF

A Royal Australian Air Force KA350 King Air conducts maritime surveillance over Tuvalu during Operation Solania 23-3. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.

Hunting for fish pirates

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1730 Views 0 Comments KA350 King Air, Operation Solania, Tuvalu

Funafuti Tower on the tiny Polynesian Island of Tuvalu clears the runway for a RAAF KA350 King Air to depart.

Australian and Laos VIP representatives cut the ribbons to officially open the joint Australia-Laos Molecular Malaria Laboratory in Ventiane, Laos during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Annika Smit.

Asia Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Partnerships deepen in Laos

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1966 Views 0 Comments C-130J Hercules, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Laos

Deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships was the focus of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) 2023 visit to Laos last week. CAPTION: Australian

Lieutenant Kento Tago on the bridge of HMAS Choules during Exercise Malabar, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

ADF People

From Japan to the RAN

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1245 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, HMAS Choules, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Exercise Malabar provided Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officer Lieutenant Kento Tago an opportunity to re-connect with his Japanese heritage. CAPTION: Lieutenant

Royal Australian Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa conducts a prayer on a visit to the KRI Nanggala Memorial in Surabaya Indonesia during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

Asia Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

‘A surreal moment’: remembering Nanggala

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1965 Views 0 Comments HMAS Anzac, HMAS Ballarat, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Indonesian Navy, KRI Nanggala

Visiting the KRI Nanggala memorial to remember 53 lives lost at sea was particularly poignant for Petty Officer Amy Morris

RAAF's Super Hornets will benefit from an upgrade of engine test cells at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry

New lease of life for aircraft engine testing

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2119 Views 1 Comment EA-18G Growler, F/A-18F Super Hornet, RAAF Amberley, TAE Aerospace

TAE Aerospace will upgrade the test system for the F414 engines that power the RAAF’s Super Hornet and Growler aircraft.

RAAF country liaison officers Flight Lieutenants Inderbir Singh (left) and Darpan Dhawan chat with Indian Navy naval air operations officer INAS 312 Lieutenant Sanjana Kamat and qualified navigation instructor INAS 316 Lieutenant Commander Lokesh Kumar (right). Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet. Photo by Private Dean Armstrong.

ADF People

Standing side by side

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1545 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, Indian Armed Forces, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Two RAAF members combined their Indian and Australian heritage to facilitate cultural understanding during this year’s Exercise Malabar. CAPTION: RAAF country

Invictus Games 2023 Team Australia competitor Able Seaman Jamie McGlinchey at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Competitions

Stubbornness shakes off the shackles

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1522 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

Able Seaman Jamie McGlinchey counts one of his greatest achievements as making the Australian Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 team. CAPTION: Invictus

Private Thomas Adamson with a Minimi machine gun during protection operations by Battle Group Waratah in and around the town of Ingham, Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

ADF People

Sticking with it

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1286 Views 1 Comment 1st/19th Royal NSW Regiment (RNSWR), Army Reserve, Exercise Talisman Sabre

A small country town near Townsville, Queensland, has gave a 22-year-old Australian Army reserve soldier from the central-west of NSW

From left, Army soldiers Lance Corporal Timothy Maloney and Private Liam McIvor, from the 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment, prepare to enter a building during joint training activities at Gallipoli Barracks, Queensland. Story and photo by Private Connor Morrison.

Australian Army News

Infantry and engineers learn from each other

25/08/202328/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1492 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, EOD, Gallipoli Barracks, Urban Operations Training Facility

Soldiers of the 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (9RQR), and the 6th Engineer Support Regiment (6ESR) conducted a joint unit

Flight Lieutenant Carl Trindorfer takes aim during Exercise Coolshot 2023 at Mount Hotham, Victoria. Story by Wing Commander Michelle Oakden. Photo by Trooper Joseph Bruce.

ADF People Competitions

RAAF triumphs at skiing championship

25/08/202304/01/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1181 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

For the first time in more than 15 years, the Air Force Nordic skiing and biathlon team won the ADF

A Royal Australian Navy aviation support sailor marshals a United States Army MH-47G Chinook after it landed on HMAS Adelaide during Exercise Balance Action. Story by Captain Sarah Kelly. Photo by Able Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

A hosting first for HMAS Adelaide

25/08/202326/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2415 Views 0 Comments HMAS Adelaide, US Army

A US Army special operations Chinook, from the ‘Night Stalkers’ regiment, conducted deck landings on HMAS Adelaide during Exercise Balance

An Australian Army vehicle reception party from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment move stores from HMPNGS Cape Gloucester onto Manus Island, in support of Exercise Puk Puk 2023. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Pacific partners ensure smooth delivery to Manus Island

25/08/202328/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1812 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Manus Island, PNGDF

Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, HMPNGS Cape Gloucester and the Australian Army’s 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment have transferred essential stores to

Invictus Games Team Australia competitor Former Army Craftsman Erin Brigden at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Tina Langridge. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People

Finally putting herself first

25/08/202303/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1423 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

Erin Brigden’s primary motivation for taking part in Invictus Games Düsseldorf is deeply personal. CAPTION: Invictus Games Team Australia competitor Former