ADF People Archives - CONTACT magazine

Peter Mengel with his Labrador Peaches and Defence Community Dogs Managing Director Leanne Kyle during a Defence Community Dogs awareness day at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Unsung heroes on four paws

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 450 Views 0 Comments Defence Community Dogs (DCD), mental health, PTSD assistance dogs

When Peter Mengel left Army, his world fell apart. CAPTION: Peter Mengel with his Labrador Peaches and Defence Community Dogs Managing

Warrant Officers Class 2 Troy Robertson, left, and Jamie Sharp, from the 9th Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment, responded to a high-impact vehicle incident. Story and photo by Captain Cath Batch.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing

Training in action at vehicle incident

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 396 Views 0 Comments 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment

For the civilians involved in a high-impact vehicle incident near Rainbow Beach, Queensland, the sight of the Army arriving was

Corporal Jack Murphy, an electronics technician from 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, helped deliver RBS-70 man-portable air-defence systems and training to Ukrainian forces in Poland. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army Europe Uncategorized

Diggers deliver missile training for Ukraine in Poland

27/06/202529/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 399 Views 1 Comment 16th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery, NASAMS

Soldiers of 16th Regiment said training Ukrainian Armed Forces to use the RBS-70 was a fitting way to send off

World War Bomber Command veterans Howard Hendrick and Ray Merrill attend the 2025 Bomber Command Commemorative Service in Adelaide. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Adelaide honours legacy of Bomber Command

27/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 209 Views 0 Comments Bomber Command, WWII

Air Force personnel joined dignitaries, veterans and the broader community in Adelaide to honour Bomber Command aviators and reflect on

From left, former crew members of Centurion 169041, Barry Hodges, Graham Munsell and Ray Arthur out the front of 1st Armoured Regiment at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Chris and Jan Fenton.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

The story of Australia’s ‘atomic tank’

25/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 642 Views 2 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment, Centurian tank, RAAF Edinburgh, Vietnam War

It’s believed a Centurion tank sitting in front of the 1st Armoured Regiment is the only tank in the world

Left to right, Corporal Lowana McDougall, Aircraftwoman Emily Harman, and Private Hope Hutchins from the Australian Defence Force Women's Rugby League team pay respects at the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Captain Jon Stewart. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Overseas

ADF players honour fallen heroes

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1966 Views 1 Comment ADF Sport, Kokoda Track, PNG, PNGDF, WWII

The Australian Defence Force Women’s Rugby League team visited the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby as part of an

Air Force aircraft technician Corporal Leigh Gammie discusses the F-35A Lightning II aircraft with veterans from the Merewether Hamilton Adamstown RSL sub-Branch at 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People History News Royal Australian Air Force

RSL meets today’s RAAF

20/06/202522/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 915 Views 0 Comments No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown, RSL

Members of the Mereweather-Hamilton-Adamstown Returned and Services League (RSL) Sub-Branch attended RAAF Base Williamtown in May to experience today’s Royal

Royal Australian Navy physical training instructors participate in the Push-Up Challenge at Fleet Base East Gymnasium in Sydney, NSW. Story by Amy Seedsman. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Military Fitness Royal Australian Navy

Pushing for an important cause

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 545 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, mental health, Push-Up Challenge

Navy personnel across the country, and even those deployed at sea, have been pushing themselves to the limit of peak

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, meets local man Erik Adriaensen at the graves of fallen aviators from 464 Squadron at Eindhoven, Netherlands. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

RAAF salutes dedication to WWII graves

20/06/202522/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 468 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, Netherlands, WWII

A Dutch family who tend to the graves of Australian aviators have received personal thanks from Chief of Air Force

From left, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Corporal Matthew Thornton, Flight Lieutenant Edwin Betar and Warrant Officer – Air Force Ralph Clifton at the Air Force writing awards presentation. Story by Squadron Leader Sacha Mondon. Photos by Flight Sergeant Kev Berriman.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Awards honour outstanding writers

17/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 844 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force

An essay about the hazards of the ADF becoming dependent on contractors and industry, and a paper on the necessity

Australian Army soldier Corporal Hyun Kim is promoted by Commander 1st (Australian) Division, Major General Ash Collingburn during Exercise Freedom Shield at Camp Yongin, Republic of Korea. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photos by Sergeant Won Kyu Jeon (Republic of Korea).

ADF People Asia Australian Army

Linguist left speechless at award ceremony

17/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 796 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Exercise Freedom Shield, linguists, South Korea, United Nations Command (UNC)

Army reservist Corporal Hyun Kim was promoted from craftsman to corporal and presented with an Army Silver Commendation during Exercise

Australian Army Private Kamarga Rogers, from 3rd Close Health Battalion, discusses medical techniques with Lieutenant Susami Shiori of the Japan Self-Defense Force during Operation Render Safe. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

ADF People Australian Army Overseas

Army medic relishes first deployment

17/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1022 Views 0 Comments 3rd Health Battalion, Japan Self-Defense Force, Operation Render Safe, PNG, unexploded ordnance, WWII

In the tropical terrain of East New Britain, Australian Defence Force personnel are working with international partners to help make

Captain Brendan Nguyen engages with a student during mental health training in Ho Chi Minh City. Story and photos by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Overseas

Army psych values training first-hand in Vietnam

13/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1042 Views 0 Comments UNMISS, Vietnam

Australian Army psychologist Captain Viet (Brendan) Nguyen returned to the homeland of his parents to assist in preparing Vietnam People’s

Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley, receives the 'Weight' of office on handover from Commodore Eric Young at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

ADF People

Deputy Chief of Navy’s submarine succession

13/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 601 Views 0 Comments

Rear Admiral Matt Buckley commenced as Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) in January, the second submariner to take up the

Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal for his work on board HMAS Toowoomba. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Toowoomba team delivers bonus for Anzac fleet

10/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 737 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba, King's Birthday Honours

By conducting thorough fault analysis, coordinating system-level testing and articulating complex problems for stakeholders, Lieutenant Commander Kieran Davis and his