ADF People – Page 3 – CONTACT magazine

Commanding Officer 723 Squadron Commander Joel Cooper and Andy Perry with the Silver Star project painting of Mr Perry. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Dishant Shah. Photos by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Honouring service past and present

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 453 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, No. 723 Squadron

Personnel from 723 Squadron welcomed Silver Star recipient and former squadron member, Andy Perry, for a ceremonial visit focused on

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart awards recipient Corporal Sarah Vella the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award during Army's 125th birthday event at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story and photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People Australian Army History

Soldier awarded for her life-saving action

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 619 Views 0 Comments 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment, Army Reserve, Chief of Army, Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award

When a young recruit’s psychosocial injury escalated into a life-threatening crisis, Corporal Sarah Vella became the steady, decisive presence he

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart awards the Chief of Army Instructor of the Year to Sergeant Matthew Booth at Russell Offices, Canberra. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People Australian Army

Dedication to service recognised

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 629 Views 1 Comment ADF School of Special Operations (ADFSSO), Army School of Transport (AST), Chief of Army

Two soldiers have earned the Chief of Army Instructor of the Year award – one for advancing Special Forces medical

Sergeant Wade Newcombe, of 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, is a recipient of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Sergeant awarded for looking out for his soldiers

04/03/202604/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 239 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, mental health, RUOK, School of Military Engineering

It’s not a sign of weakness to admit you’re not okay, according to Jonathan Church Award recipient Sergeant Wade Newcombe.

From left, Able Seaman Adam Brazier, Leading Seaman Sam Lomax and Seaman Patrick Ward hold Australian-made seawater strainers. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly.

ADF People AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

British nuclear sub tagged by Aussie techs

04/03/202607/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 479 Views 0 Comments AUKUS, Fleet Support Unit – West (FSU-W)

Australian naval technicians have manufactured and installed critical components for the United Kingdom’s HMS Anson during the submarine’s maintenance period at HMAS Stirling,

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker and her father, Musician Bill Barker, prepare with the combined military bands of the ADF for their performance with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane. Story by Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF People Australian Army

Father and daughter in tune at Tattoo

04/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 394 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Australian Army Band, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker’s family had booked tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Brisbane show before discovering she would

Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Matt Buckley and Leading Seaman Elodie Miles visit former WRANS writer Merle Hare, centre, for her 106th birthday, with, former Leading Navy Radar Plotter Pauline Gribble, far left, and former Navy member Judith Rowe. Story by Lieutenant Felicity de Fombelle.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget

Love, loss and loyal service

27/02/202627/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 398 Views 0 Comments WWII

In 1943, country girl Merle Hare was relishing her swish role in the salaries office at the prestigious Myer Emporium

Barbara Smith, right, and her daughter Michelle with Chief Petty Officer Ronald Schauer at HMAS Coonawarra during their visit to Darwin. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Touching base with the past

26/02/202626/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 364 Views 0 Comments HMAS Coonawarra

For 45 years, Barbara Smith has not been back to the Northern Territory. CAPTION: Barbara Smith, right, and her daughter

Official portrait of Papua New Guinea Defence Force officer and Deputy Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Colonel Boniface Aruma. Photo by Captain Andrew Page. Corporal Guy Sadler.

ADF People Australian Army

The importance of leading by example

20/02/202620/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 531 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, PNGDF

As the 3rd Brigade sharpens its focus on warfighting readiness, its deputy commander is equally focused on something less visible

Hawker Hunter Trophy awardee Flight Lieutenant Sam Nery with fellow graduates of the Empire Test Pilots' School in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Story by Captain Edward Pym. Photo by Wing Commander Wayne Baylis.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force UK

Aussies come up aces in UK flight testing

18/02/202618/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 530 Views 0 Comments

Competitively drawn from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), four ADF officers graduated from the Empire

Exercise Kanga Return 2025 participants begin the hike through the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Story by Flight Lieutenant Ambarose. Photos by Corporal Johnny Huang.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Walking in the muddy footsteps of Kokoda’s fallen

13/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 672 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kanga Return, Kokoda Trail, PNG, WWII

Twenty junior Australian Defence Force leaders took part in Exercise Kanga Return late last year, following in the footsteps of

Commanding Officer 460 Squadron Wing Commander Karri Roberts lays a wreath for the late RAAF World War II veteran, Flying Officer Peter Birt, during a Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story by Flying Officer Michael Thomas. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

A family’s legacy in service

13/02/202613/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 456 Views 0 Comments AWM, Last Post, No. 100 Squadron, No. 460 Squadron, WWII

The courageous service of an Australian World War II aviator was celebrated on both sides of the country at a special Last

Lieutenant Kane Kasemchainan and Sub-Lieutenant Yasmin Dench, centre, were immersed in South Korean culture during their time on ROKS Hansando.

ADF People Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Training cruise strengthens naval ties

13/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 492 Views 0 Comments South Korean Navy

Royal Australian Navy officers Lieutenant Kane Kasemchainan and Sub-Lieutenant Yasmin Dench recently joined the South Korean Navy’s training ship ROKS Hansando for

Sergeant David Humphry with his Certificate of Service and gold Air Force service medallion at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Natasha Silver.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Half a century of dedicated service

13/02/202613/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 539 Views 0 Comments

Sergeant David Humphry was only 16 when he joined the Royal Australian Navy as a firefighter, a decision that would

Defence Science and Technology Group’s molecular biologist Natalie Withington, uses the RASTRUM Allegro 3D cell bioprinter to grow organoids. Story by David Kilmartin. Photo by Megan Sheppard.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Science & Technology

Printing mini livers to save lives

10/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1040 Views 0 Comments DSTG

When personnel are exposed (or potentially exposed) to chemical threats, they’re treated with countermeasures known as oximes. CAPTION: Defence Science