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CONTACT magazine

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An Australian Army M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank provides support for soldiers during an urban assault at Shoalwater Bay Training Area as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 25. Photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.
Letters to the Editor 

Is an Army unit something that the Chief of Army can do with as he likes?

10/11/202510/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5262 Views 19 Comments

He’s the one in charge … so, why not? If he wants a unit to undertake a new role managing

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Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, conduct a trench clearance, supported by 2nd Cavalry Regiment M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, as part of Exercise Brolga Sprint at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo by Private Jessica Gray.
Letters to the Editor 

Is frank and fearless advice a thing of the past?

08/11/202508/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2675 Views 4 Comments

Is the concept of ‘frank and fearless advice’ simply rhetoric; or is it a goal which defines the ideals to

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Seaman Angus Norbury and Able Seaman Christopher Diviak lay a wreath on board HMAS Ballarat during a service commemorating the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.
History Lest We Forget News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

Honouring our fallen

07/11/202507/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 722 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, WWII

HMAS Ballarat paused at sea to honour those who fought and fell in the Battle of Leyte Gulf – one of the

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A 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules taxis onto the RAAF Base Richmond apron after a flight that marked 170,000 cumulative flying hours in the C-130J for the squadron. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Hercules fleet clocks 170,000 flying hours

07/11/202507/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 595 Views 0 Comments C-130J Hercules, No. 37 Squadron, RAAF Richmond

In September 2025, 37 Squadron’s C-130J Hercules fleet surpassed 170,000 flying hours, marking a significant milestone in the squadron’s history

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An Australian Army M1A2 Abrams main battle tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during the South Queensland Warfighter Exercise at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.
Letters to the Editor 

An Appalling Lapse of Judgement

06/11/202506/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 559 Views 0 Comments

“It was warm and humid as I stepped out of my vehicle to greet the commander of the Australian Army’s

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Then-president of 30 Squadron Beaufighter Association, Bruce Robertson, during his 105th birthday celebration at Castle Hill RSL Club, NSW. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.
ADF People History Lest We Forget 

A long life of loyal service

04/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 488 Views 0 Comments WWII

On October 14, Bruce Robertson, a 105-year-old Air Force World War 2 veteran – who was the first to detect

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Letters to the Editor 

The Last Battle – SOTG in Shah Wali Kot

03/11/202503/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 627 Views 0 Comments

Dear editor, May I introduce you to a new book I have written, highlighting the role of the Australian Special

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Australian Army Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks during a live-fire serial as part of a qualification course for Royal Australian Armoured Corps soldiers at Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.
Letters to the Editor 

What will be the cost of NOT having a tank regiment?

01/11/202502/11/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 941 Views 0 Comments

The National Defence Strategy 2024 makes it clear that the Army must have the capacity to respond with credible military

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The 2026 Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games contenders, including three Navy members and veterans.
ADF People Health and Wellbeing 

From Invictus to the Paralympics

29/10/202529/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 718 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games, Service Dogs

Beneath the grandeur of Admiralty House and overlooking Sydney Harbour, three Navy members and veterans stood proudly before an audience

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An Australian Army Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle (left) and an M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tank during sea-transportability trials at Townsville Port, Queensland. Photo by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.
Letters to the Editor 

The RAAC like it’s never been before

25/10/202525/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 749 Views 0 Comments

A direct consequence of 1st Armoured Regiment being stripped of its tanks and made into a Combat Experimentation Group (CXG),

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Herbert Adams watches the premiere screening of the documentary, An Enduring Legacy: The Empire Air Training Scheme, at RAAF Base Wagga, NSW. Ssdtory by Squadron Leader Karyn Markwell. Photos by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force 

History and heritage on show in new film

24/10/202526/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 923 Views 0 Comments History and Heritage – Air Force Restoration Support Section (HH-AF RSS), No. 464 Squadron, RAAF Wagga Wagga, RAAFSTT, WWII

History and Heritage – Air Force (HH-AF) officially released the documentary An Enduring Legacy: The Empire Air Training Scheme at a premiere

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Royal Australian Air Force PC-21 and Wirraway aircraft perform a flyover during the RAAF Base Wagga Freedom of Entry parade, in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Story by Flying Officer Belinda Barker. Photo by Aircraftman Jakob Reid.
History News Royal Australian Air Force 

Freedom of Entry marks bond of 85 years

23/10/202523/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 780 Views 0 Comments Freedom of Entry, RAAF Wagga Wagga

With swords drawn and drums beating, 500 RAAF Base Wagga personnel marched in perfect formation as a Freedom of Entry

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STS Young Endeavour sails from Sydney Harbour, embarking on her last voyage around Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Lauren Pugsley.
History News Royal Australian Navy 

Young Endeavour’s last lap inspires new generation

22/10/202522/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2830 Views 0 Comments Young Endeavour

Australia’s national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour has completed her final circumnavigation of the continent, marking a significant milestone in her 37-year

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An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams main battle tank fires its 120mm cannon during a live-fire serial for the Coral-Balmoral Cup at Puckapunyal Military Area. Story by Captain Thomas Kaye. Photos by Corporal Johnny Huang.
Letters to the Editor 

Where will the hurt be felt most?

22/10/202522/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 655 Views 1 Comment

Making 1st Armoured Regiment a non-combatant was something managed very closely by Defence.  Complaints from the unit itself had to

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THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1917 (Q 6284) A British Mark IV tank at Wailly. This shows how it would appear to occupants of the German trenches during the Battle of Cambrai. This was the first occasion on which tanks were launched en masse in a surprise attack and it clearly demonstrated the potential of the armoured vehicle. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124999
Letters to the Editor 

The Values of Cambrai: Recognised Today?

18/10/202518/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 695 Views 0 Comments

“It remains for unit Commanders and for Tank crews to complete the work by judgement and pluck in the battle

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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 945 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

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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 857 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

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Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment during the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.
Letters to the Editor 

A primer for Cambrai Day:  The enduring legacy of the tank – or is it?

13/10/202513/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 546 Views 0 Comments

“Special Order No. 6 H J Elles, Commander Tank Corps19th November 1917” 0630hrs, 20 Nov 1917.   “A predicted bombardment

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An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment briefs Chief of Army on some of his units new experimental fighting equipment in Shoalwater Bay training area in Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Captain Joanne Leca.
Letters to the Editor 

Experimentation and the Australian Army: What’s Going on?

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3182 Views 2 Comments

“From commanding armoured vehicles in land combat to operating emerging technology, robotics and autonomous systems, soldiers from the 1st Armoured

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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 875 Views 0 Comments WWII

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

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