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CONTACT magazine

CONTACT BLOG SPOT

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 667 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 566 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 776 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 1041 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 812 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 858 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 1017 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 893 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 2946 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 757 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 776 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 1045 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 956 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 632 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 3345 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 974 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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An Australian Army soldier from 1st Armoured Regiment demonstrates hyper-teaming with uncrewed aerial systems on Project Convergence Capstone 5 at Fort Irwin, California, on 11 March 2025. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.
Letters to the Editor 

A Battle Laboratory AND a Combat Experimentation Group – why? 

10/10/202510/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 780 Views 0 Comments

Most of us thought, based on information from the Chief of Defence Force, that 1st Armoured Regiment had been specially

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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 

WWII veteran celebrates a century

08/10/202502/11/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1180 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

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Captain Manning Field (right) from Battle Lab talks with Captain Thomas James from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Photo by Sergeant Dustin Anderson.
Letters to the Editor 

Armour gets the short end of the straw – again

03/10/202507/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 843 Views 0 Comments

It really didn’t matter that 3RAR is still to receive its ‘Redback’ mechanised infantry fighting vehicles (MICVs), 3 (Armoured) Brigade

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An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment hits the shore during a combined amphibious assault activity on Exercise Alon in the Philippines. Story by Squadron Leader Courtney Jay. Photos by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.
Letters to the Editor 

Is it possible to meet Defence priorities AND fund the AUKUS subs?

02/10/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 704 Views 0 Comments

‘The Cove’ is the Army’s Professional Military Education platform, offering online units, podcasts, and articles to facilitate continuous learning and connect

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