CONTACT BLOG SPOT Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Army recruits in training at 1st Training Battalion, Kapooka, NSW. 1RTB photo.

Rebuilding Australia through improving Defence preparedness

27/04/2025 WGCDR Wayne (Noddy) Parsons, RAAF Retd 391 Views 0 Comments

Professor Geoffrey Blainey posits Australia was better prepared to help confront the challenge facing the Empire in 1914 at the

An M1A2 Abrams Tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville on 14 November 2024. Photo by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Letters to the Editor

Townsville’s Armoured Brigade: Why Isn’t it Ready?

27/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 424 Views 0 Comments

The 2024 National Defence Strategy (and the Defence Strategic Review before it) changed the ADF’s readiness from a joint force

An Australian Army soldier from the 1st Armoured Regiment with an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a prototype communications system and experimental drone launcher during Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Why Hasn’t the Australian Public Been Told?

26/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 797 Views 1 Comment

Extracts from the 2023 Defence Strategic Review: “Army’s combat brigades must be reroled and select capabilities postured in northern Australia.”

Leading Seaman Phillip Lofthouse is deployed on Operation Accordion at Camp Baird, United Arab Emirates. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Dawn service ashore a first for sailor

24/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 671 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Middle East Region

Deployed on Anzac Day in the Middle East region, Leading Seaman Phillip Lofthouse will honour his grandfather’s resilience as a

Royal Australian Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant Zac Pattison at his computer while deployed on Operation Accordion at Headquarters Middle East in 2025. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Thoughts of home while serving overseas

24/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 494 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Middle East Region, Operation Accordion

This Anzac Day, project engineer Flight Lieutenant Zac Pattison will reflect on those who served before him and the role

Royal Australian Air Force musician Corporal Chloe Bruer-Jones will sing the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand on Anzac Day. Story by Warrant Officer Ben van den Akker. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Singing for her Anzac ancestors

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 706 Views 0 Comments Air Force Band, ANZAC Day, Chief of Defence Force, Vietnam

Members of Air Force Band have travelled to Hanoi, Vietnam, to perform at Anzac Day services hosted by the Australian

Australian Army soldier Corporal Hamish Smith at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Solemn duty to remember and connect

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 642 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Australian War Memorial, Last Post

Corporal Hamish Smith never imagined he would one day stand at the pinnacle of solemn remembrance on such an important

Private Luke Morrison, of Australia's Federation Guard, will join the catafalque party at Gallipoli. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Service in homage to great-grandfather’s memory

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 377 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Federation Guard

Days before departing for Gallipoli to take part in Anzac Day commemorations, Australia’s Federation Guard (AFG) member Private Luke Morrison

Leading Seaman Benjamin Woodlock, of Australia's Federation Guard, at the Australian War Memorial during the lead-up to Anzac Day 2025, when he will command the catafalque party at the Gallipoli dawn service. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Honoured and humbled to serve

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 318 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Federation Guard

‘Woody’, to his mates is a Larrikin, but on April 25 he will be stepping into a very important role,

Leading Seaman Christine Merrilees with her son, Leading Seaman Shannon Leak, and her father, Chief Petty Officer Stewart Merrilees. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi.

ADF People History

Three generations share Navy heritage

23/04/202523/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 143 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, HMAS Sydney, Regional Presence Deployment

As HMAS Sydney sails through the Indo-Pacific region this Anzac Day, one sailor on board has a deeply personal connection

Air Force's Corporal Kevin Jeffries, of Australia's Federation Guard, reflects at the statue of Simpson and his Donkey at the Australian War Memorial before heading to Lone Pine for Anzac Day 2025. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photo by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Proud moment to lead at Lone Pine

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 140 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Federation Guard

This Anzac Day, Corporal Kevin Jeffries will be standing proud at Lone Pine in Turkiye as the Commander of Australia’s

Army soldier Sergeant Jonathan Apps, of Australia's Federation Guard, with his daughters and a picture of his great-grandfather at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, during preparations for Anzac Day 2025. Story. y Captain Katy Manning. Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Honouring commitment and sacrifice in France

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 145 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Federation Guard

As Anzac Day approaches, Army Sergeant Jonathan Apps is preparing for one of the most meaningful duties of his career

Able Seaman Rachel Brandt, of Australia's Federation Guard, places a poppy to mark her respects at the Australian War Memorial during the lead-up to Anzac Day 2025. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Sergeant Sagi Biderman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Continuing a family legacy of service

23/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 133 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Federation Guard

On Anzac Day this year, Able Seaman Rachel Brandt will have the perfect opportunity to pay respects to her great-great-uncle

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Tank is loaded onto a Royal Australian Navy light landing craft, during Exercise Sea Explorer, Cowley Beach, Queensland. Story by Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Jacqueline Forrester.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

An Open Letter to Prospective new Defence Ministers

23/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 551 Views 0 Comments

Eighteen months ago, the Defence Strategic Review stipulated that an armoured brigade should be located in Townsville. This requirement has

Centurion tanks from 1st Armoured Regiment, and armoured personnel carriers from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, move along the main road of Binh Ba village. Over three days, armour and infantry dislodged a strong North Vietnamese Army group that had entered the village, for the loss of one Australian killed in action. AWM BEL/69/0389/VN. Binh Ba.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Letter to 95-Year-Old Professor Who’s Seen it All Before

22/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 425 Views 0 Comments

Dear Professor Blainey, Thank you for your article (in the Weekend Australian) ‘We were better prepared for war in 1914

Members of Overwatch Battle Group–West get ready to participate in an ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Talil, Iraq, 2008. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Lest We Forget Letters to the Editor Veterans

Recognising Recent Sacrifices

21/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 630 Views 0 Comments

The NSW government has released the design and location for a new war memorial to honour the service and sacrifice

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Army’s Tank Numbers: A Revolving Dance Card

18/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1316 Views 0 Comments

In terms of the standard organisation, a tank regiment comprises three sabre (fighting) squadrons, each squadron comprises four troops of

Able Seaman Joshua Bishenden, Private Daniel Barlow and Able Seaman Mitchell Rigney at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra during final preparations for Anzac Day 2025. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

Chance to honour family military heritage

18/04/202518/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1179 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Australia’s Federation Guard, France, Villers-Bretonneux

With Anzac Day fast approaching, members of Australia’s Federation Guard (AFG) are preparing for one of the most significant events

Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Johansen stands alongside his wife, Michelle, after being presented the Federation Star clasp to his Defence Long Service Medal for 40 years of service, at Gallipoli Barracks, Queensland. Story by Captain Nigel Jacobs. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

ADF People Australian Army History

Four decades of dedication to Army

18/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2175 Views 1 Comment Army Reserve, Federation Star, Gallipoli Barracks

Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Kim Johansen has trained and mentored young soldiers and officers, in Australia and overseas, for

Air Force Cricket's Anzac Day 2022 team line up before the match in Bowral. Story by Wing Commander Deanna Nott.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Air Force

Air Force Cricket a binding tradition

18/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 967 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

Flight Sergeant Ian Smith has swung a bat for Air Force Cricket for nearly two decades, and this Anzac Day

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