ADF People Archives - CONTACT magazine

Squadron Leader Anthony Rengel receives handover from the 77th ANARE medical practitioner Dr Peter Rizzo near the RSV Nuyina and local Adelie penguins.

The doctor is in the ice house

19/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 291 Views 0 Comments Antarctica, Mawson Station, Operation Southern Discovery, RSV Nuyina

Squadron Leader Anthony Rengel’s inspiration to spend a year in Antarctica came from a relative who worked at Mawson station

Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) host the 2025 DMFS welcome event in Adelaide. Story by Chelsey Ballard. Photo by Georgina Holmes.

ADF People

ADF settles into South Australian postings

18/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1935 Views 0 Comments Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS)

With the start of a new year comes a series of new postings for ADF personnel and their families. CAPTION: Defence

Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer for members of the TNI AL at a local mosque in Surabaya Indonesia during Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Challenges personnel face during Ramadan

18/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 149 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

For Muslims in Defence, Ramadan presents a set of unique challenges. CAPTION: Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer

Able Seaman Bharatkumar (Brett) Thumar, left, and Leading Seaman Chris Hughes reunite with Liz Cummings for the first time since providing first aid to her in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Allan Bruty. Photo by Petty Officer James Whittle.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Sailors save the day with first aid

14/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 575 Views 0 Comments

A routine run for three sailors in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens turned into a real-life first aid exercise, after they

Australian Army officer Brigadier Damian Hill presents Lance Bombardier Joshua Burke with an engraved watch in recognition of the Mattner Award. Story by Major Tim Sydenham. Photo by Signals Aaron Thant.

ADF People Australian Army

Artillery award a nice surprise for gunner

11/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1285 Views 0 Comments NASAMS, Royal Australian Artillery

This year’s recipient of the Royal Australian Artillery’s Mattner Award had no idea he had been nominated. CAPTION: Australian Army officer

d guests attend the HMAS Perth I memorial foundation ceremony, commemorating the Battle of Saunda Strait, at Training Ship Perth in Fremantle, WA. Story by Petty Officer Keigan Gunther. Photos by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Perth I Memorial unveiled

07/03/202511/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1002 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth, HMAS Perth I, WWII

The HMAS Perth I memorial was inaugurated in East Fremantle recently by the Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson and

Air Force service medallions, from left, recognising 20, 10 and four years of service. Photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

New recognition for transitioning personnel

07/03/202516/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1371 Views 7 Comments

From March 1, all transitioning full-time ADF personnel will receive a testimonial to recognise their contribution before their final date

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band members at the Rats hall in Melbourne. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History

Band gives a shout-out for new members

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 603 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Tattoo, WWII

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band has carried its music across the globe, from the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud on the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator course with his peers and mentors at HMAS Albatross, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From Yam Island to the Middle East and beyond

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 592 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, HMAS Cairns, Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator (RIDC)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud remembers Navy crew visiting his island home when he was just a child. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Roneld

Personnel from Navy's Leadership Management Development Centre with NRL referees and staff at HMAS Penguin.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

NRL tackles leadership skills with Navy

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 385 Views 0 Comments HMAS Penguin

Navy recently welcomed leadership teams, support staff and referees from the National Rugby League (NRL) elite officiating teams to undertake

Retired Australian Army combat assault dogs Aslan, left, and Manic, of the 2nd Commando Regiment, receive the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award at the Australian War Memorial. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF ADF People Veterans

Commando canines honoured for service

28/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1216 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, aww, Dogs of Valour, Middle East Region, Military Working Dogs, Purple Popply Day, Service Dogs

A retired combat assault dog named Manic, who served with the 2nd Commando Regiment in Iraq, received a new award

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, speaks with guests at the Bombing of Darwin memorial unveiling at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF salutes sacrifice in WWII attack

28/02/202514/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 923 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, Chief of Air Force, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, WWII

Two memorials honouring the sacrifice of aviators killed in a Japanese attack have been unveiled in Darwin. CAPTION: Chief of Air

Army soldier Sergeant Brent Power, a preventative medicine technician, remembers working on Operation Flood Assist at his home town of Casino, NSW, three years ago. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army History

Remembering devastating floods, three years on

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 804 Views 0 Comments Operation Flood Assist 2022

In 2022, then-Corporal Brent Power saw his home town of Casino, NSW, transformed into a river of diesel, rotting animal

Karen Curtis and her grandchildren with the World War 2 service medals of her great uncle Sergeant William O’Shea at the Timaru War Memorial in New Zealand, after the medals were returned by Chaplain Haydn Lea. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Medals land in safe hands

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 500 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, No. 25 Squadron, RNZAF, WWII

As New Zealander aviator Sergeant William O’Shea’s Wellington bomber barrelled through heavy flak over Germany, a cone of light tracked

Army Corporal Mark Donaldson, VC, speaks to soldiers during a visit to the Trainee Rehabilitation Wing on Holsworthy Barracks, NSW. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photos by Sergeant Brodie Cross.

ADF People Australian Army History

VC recipients inspire the troops

21/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1314 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, Mark Donaldson VC

Trooper Mark Donaldson, VC, remembered thinking to himself that there was no one coming to help. CAPTION: Army Corporal Mark Donaldson,

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 competitor Sergeant Emily Lahey is welcomed on board a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A aircraft by Leading Aircraftwoman Lily Cooper. Story. by Flying Officer Tina Langridge.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie warriors’ inspiring Invictus journey ends

20/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1262 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport

Team Australia’s incredible Invictus Games 2025 campaign has officially concluded after an inspiring and intense nine-day international competition. CAPTION: Invictus Games

Commander Peter Teichmann during his retirement ceremony at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Commander Anthony White. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People History Royal Australian Navy

Vietnam veteran casts off after 54 years

20/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1607 Views 0 Comments

On January 5, 1971, as the Vietnam conflict was spreading to Cambodia and Laos, the first-ever One Day International was

Commander Air Task Group Air Commodore Philip Gordon in front of an F/A-18A Hornet on the flight line of Australia's main air operating base in the Middle East region. This image has been digitally modified. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photos by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

ADF People History Middle East Royal Australian Air Force

Reflecting on Op Okra Air Task Group

18/02/202523/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1309 Views 0 Comments Daesh, F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornet, Middle East Region

Hornet pilots strapped into their aircraft in temperatures often exceeding 50 degrees before taking off for eight-and-a-half-hour sorties. CAPTION: Commander Air