ADF People – CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Air Force Avionics Technicians, Leading Aircraftwoman Rosalia Frichot and Aircraftman Izaak Mazurek during Exercise Bushido Guardian 2025, Misawa Air Base, Japan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Paris Rigney.

Avionic technicians living the dream in Japan

24/10/202526/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 298 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, F-35A Lightning II, Gap Year program, Japan, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 3 Squadron

For two young RAAF avionic technicians, their decision to join the permanent air force after “dipping their toes” in the

Navy veteran and Invictus Games athlete Luke McCallum with the Military Police team after a rewarding day’s work. Story b y Michelle Hoare.

ADF People

Military Police dig in to help veteran

22/10/202522/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 404 Views 0 Comments Invictus, Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU), Legacy, MPs, Warrior Games

Military Police (MP) are not usually known for garden makeovers, but a local team recently pitched in on behalf of

The Air Force Balloon with Mount Panorama in the background at 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000. Story by Flying Officer Belinda Barker. Photos by Sergeant Dan Pinhorn.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Dawn patrol brings quiet magic to Bathurst

21/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 429 Views 0 Comments Air Force Balloon, Bathurst 1000

Before the roar of V8 engines and smell of racing fuel filled the air for the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000,

Incoming Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul Captain Iain Hutchins, left, receives the weight from outgoing Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul Captain Rebecca Levitt at the Heritage Centre, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by By Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos by Able Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Gravity of changing the watch

21/10/202521/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 457 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul

Commanding a Navy base is never a simple task, and for Captain Rebecca Levitt, her tenure as Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul has

Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan White.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Middle East News

Bravery on the battlefield and beyond

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 674 Views 0 Comments improvised explosive device (IED), Operation Paladin, United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO)

“Lima, this is Victor … CAPTION: Lieutenant Commander Travis Robinson while deployed on Operation Paladin. Story by Lieutenant Commander Jonathan

Defence personnel conduct a climb during the rock phase of Rock and Ice at Mt Arapiles. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Lieutenant Sebastian Ashton.

ADF ADF People Health and Wellbeing Military Fitness News

Between a rocky and an icy place

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 651 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Rock and Ice

When Midshipman Stephanie Hudson fell during her first rock-climbing trip, she didn’t think much of it – she just got

Major Mike Fitzpatrick, left, and his late father Keith Fitzpatrick. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Three generations of military service

10/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 713 Views 0 Comments WWII

Of the nearly one million Australians who served in World War 2, Keith Fitzpatrick was believed to be among the

Phillip 'Monro' Preuss celebrates his century with his great-grandchildren and 1 Recruit Training Unit members, from left, Squadron Leader Shannon Monk, Wing Commander Jodie Mason, Sergeant Nick Harrison, Corporal Tahlia Stockley and Warrant Officer David Harding. Story and photos by Flying Officer Belinda Barker.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

WW2 veteran celebrates a century

08/10/202508/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 642 Views 0 Comments 1RTU, RAAF Wagga Wagga, WWII

Nearly 80 years after his discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force, Phillip ‘Monro’ Preuss remains a celebrated member of

Personnel from RAAF Base Richmond on the Out of the Shadows Lifeline walk. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Bringing suicide prevention Out of the Shadows

30/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1049 Views 0 Comments Lifeline, National Suicide Prevention Day, RAAF Richmond

Earlier this month, RAAF Base Richmond participated in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows Walk, to remember the lives of those

The Air Force Surf Riders Association’s 2025 Festival of Surfing united 40 personnel at Seal Rocks, New South Wales. Story by Wing Commander Deanna Nott. Photos by Corporal Leigh Gammie.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Riding waves and building bonds

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3092 Views 0 Comments Air Force Surf Riders Association (AFSRA)

The Air Force Surf Riders Association (AFSRA) united 40 Air Force personnel from across Australia for a week of competitive

ADF People History

Honouring the Air Force spirit

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3310 Views 0 Comments Battle of Britain, WWII

For Wing Commander Jenny Robertson (retd), the Battle of Britain is more than a pivotal moment in history. It’s a

Video screenshot of a RAAF EA-18G Growler pilot flying through Brisbane CBD during Riverfire 2025.

ADF People News Royal Australian Air Force

Riverfire from the pilot’s perspective

13/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5078 Views 0 Comments Riverfire

The Australian Defence Force has published some very cool behind-the-scenes footage of their involvement in this year’s Riverfire flypast. ADF

Sales of Legacy bears support the annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of veterans who have given their life or health in service to our country. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo by Emma Taylor.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Annual fundraiser a big boost for Legacy

12/09/202512/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4998 Views 0 Comments Legacy Week, Vivian Bullwinkel

Across the country, sailors, soldiers and aviators took to the streets selling pin badges and bears to raise funds in

Group Captain Kath Stein is the first current serving ADF member to be president of the Australian College of Nursing. Story by Michelle Hoare.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News

ADF nurse to lead Australian College of Nursing

12/09/202522/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4480 Views 0 Comments Vivian Bullwinkel

For Group Captain Kath Stein, following in the footsteps of one of her military nursing role models is deeply meaningful.

Defence APS member Grant Tebbutt with his late grandfather Tom Foster’s recently recovered World War 2 medals and a photo album belonging to his father, Ivan. Story by Lieutenant Fenlan Miller. Photos by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

ADF People Archives History Lest We Forget

Defence APS member reunited with lost medals

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2806 Views 0 Comments WWII

Forty years after they vanished, a set of medals belonging to a Defence Australian Public Service member’s grandfather has been

The crew of HMAS Ballarat hold a morning tea during their regional presence deployment to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? Day. Story and photo by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat crew checks in on R U OK? Day

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3967 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, mental health, RUOK

The crew of HMAS Ballarat paused their busy regional presence deployment schedule to mark R U OK? Day at sea.

The immediate health and safety of ADF personnel has been the priority in the wake of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Defence prioritises health, safety in wake of report

09/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 446 Views 0 Comments mental health, Suicide Royal Commission

One year after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide delivered its final report, the senior officer supporting the

Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez is the first Navy photographer awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, acknowledging his dedication to capturing the stories of Australia's military personnel through imagery. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo supplied.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From behind the lens and into the spotlight

09/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3922 Views 0 Comments

Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez is the first Navy photographer awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, making him the most highly decorated

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) approach the Sandakan Death March Memorial in Sabah, Malaysia, while retracing the historic route. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas

A journey of remembrance and learning in Borneo

05/09/202516/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 6002 Views 0 Comments Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award, WWII

Recipients of the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award (JCGSA) have retraced the route of the single worst atrocity inflicted on

Signaller Ashlee Chivers with a photo of her great-grandfather’s cousin, Sergeant Henry 'Harry' James Chivers, at the Australian War Memorial. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Max Bree.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Last Post reading a personal one for signaller

29/08/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2862 Views 0 Comments AWM, Last Post, WWI

Blaring bugle sounds and reading stories of Australia’s fallen is nothing new for Signaller Ashlee Chivers. CAPTION: Signaller Ashlee Chivers with

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