Pacific Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian and Japanese soldiers and US Marines participate in a smoking ceremony Robertson Barracks to kick-start Exercise Southern Jackaroo. Photo by Barrie Collins, for CONTACT.

Exercise Southern Jackaroo off to a smokin start

15/06/2021 Brian Hartigan 292 Views 0 Comments

MRF-D, Australian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel began Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2021 in Northern Territory today.

Remote Installation Commander Lieutenant Amy Rowlings visits Windua High School in South West Bay. Story and photo by Corporal Olivia Cameron.

Australian Army News Pacific

School visit in Vanuatu

21/05/2021 Mike Hughes 226 Views 0 Comments

Telecommunications riggers from 127 Signals Troop and the Vanuatu Police Force visited Windua High School in South West Bay, Malekula,

Second Lieutenant Sione Kaufononga, front left, and Lieutenant Esafe Vanipola, front right, from His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga during the official welcome ceremony at Brisbane. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Tongans’ course reunites them with Aussie mates

21/05/2021 Mike Hughes 258 Views 0 Comments

The members of a contingent from His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) Tonga in Australia to complete courses are reconnecting with

Ship’s company of Royal Solomon Islands Patrol Vessel Taro line the upper deck after boarding their vessel for the first time following a formal handover ceremony at Henderson, WA. Photo by Able Seaman Annabelle Reidy.

Australian News Pacific Sovereign industry

Solomon Islands receives second Pacific patrol boat replacement

08/05/2021 Brian Hartigan 809 Views 0 Comments

The Solomon Islands has received its second Guardian-class patrol boat under Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, operated by No. 2 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW, Australia, flies with an Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor off Hawaii. Story and photo by Staff Sergeant John Linzmeier 154th Wing Public Affairs - Hawaii Air National Guard

News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF’s secret sorties with F-22 revealed

05/05/202115/05/2021 Brian Hartigan 1656 Views 0 Comments

Australia’s involvement in Exercise Pacific Edge 21 in Hawaii last month, went unreported by Defence – but the Yanks gave us plenty…

Private Osama Ahmed, left, Lieutenant Amy Rowlings and Vanuatu Police Maritime Wing Constable Sione Motoutorua connect the antenna to the Epi Island’s Police Post radio mast. Story by Corporal Olivia Cameron. Photo by Corporal Olivia Cameron.

ADF Pacific

ADF connecting remote islands of Vanuatu

04/05/2021 Mike Hughes 263 Views 0 Comments

Twenty-three ADF personnel arrived in Port Vila on March 15 to install radio and solar power systems on the remote islands

HMAS Maitland off the coast of Honiara, Solomon Islands, and an Air Force C27-J Spartan during a maritime surveillance patrol for illegal fishing activity on Operation Solania. Story by Lieutenant Commander Julia Griffin. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Peter Spearman.

Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Maitland returns home after fishery patrols

02/05/2021 Mike Hughes 162 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Maitland has returned home after taking part in Australia’s latest contribution to Operation Solania, supporting the Solomon Islands’ efforts

An Air Force C-27J Spartan flies over HMAS Maitland off the coast of Honiara, Solomon Islands, during Operation Solania. Story by Major Anna-Lise Brink. Photo by Seaman Isaiah Appleton.

ADF Pacific

Supporting Pacific fishers from the air

02/05/202105/05/2021 Mike Hughes 197 Views 0 Comments

Royal Australian Air Force personnel in March took part in an operation to deter illegal fishing in the south-west Pacific,

Sergeant Jone Naulivo, from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, with soldiers from the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, during Exercise Coral Soldier. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.

Australian Army Pacific

An exercise in sharing knowledge

30/04/2021 Mike Hughes 201 Views 0 Comments

Exercise Coral Soldier provided an opportunity for Fijian and Australian soldiers to share their knowledge by working together. CAPTION: Sergeant

The all-female crew of No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron deployed to provide additional aeromedical evacuation capability after Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Story by Flight Lieutenant Joanne Mackson.

Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

All-female medical team take on disaster relief

30/04/2021 Mike Hughes 501 Views 1 Comment

For the first time an all-female medical team deployed to support the domestic disaster relief recovery efforts following Tropical Cyclone

A player from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces team, left, attempts to intercept Craftsman Shaun Coel during the Malo-Bula Cup at Gallipoli Barracks. Story by Captain Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Private Hamid Farahani.

Australian Army Pacific

A show of mateship and quality rugby

22/04/2021 Mike Hughes 270 Views 0 Comments

The inaugural Malo-Bula Cup rugby sevens competition has helped forge closer ties between the Fijian, Tongan and Australian Armies while

Corporal James Milne from the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, right, with Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Private Seruwaia Kovakova, front, and Lance Corporal Apimeleki Nabati during urban training. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Fijians join Aussie soldiers for urban training

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 308 Views 0 Comments

Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) have joined Australian infantry soldiers from Army’s 7th Combat Brigade for

Private Sireli Levukaiciwa from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces gives Kava to the Commanding Officer of 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel John Eccleston. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.

Australian Army News Pacific

Ceremony welcomes Fijian soldiers

09/04/2021 Mike Hughes 348 Views 0 Comments

Welcomes don’t come much warmer than the one given by the 7th Combat Brigade to 37 soldiers and officers from

A RHIB crew from HMNZS Aotearoa secures the tsunami-detection buoy in preparation for the ship’s crane to lift it aboard. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

Royal NZ Navy rescues lost buoy

27/03/2021 Brian Hartigan 316 Views 0 Comments

HMNZS Aotearoa retrieved a Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami buoy southeast of Tonga that’d been drifting since December.

Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Rhianna Jones teaches CPR to police officers from the Vanuatu Police Force Maritime Wing and Vanuatu Mobile Ground Forces soldiers in Port Villa, Vanuatu. Photo by Sergeant Ray Vance.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

Australian-funded barracks construction in Vanuatu begins

13/03/2021 Brian Hartigan 803 Views 0 Comments

Construction has commenced in Port Vila under the Cook and Tiroas Barracks Redevelopment project – a joint Australia/Vanuatu initiative.

Island of Galoa locals in front of the Galoa Island Primary School repaired by Republic of Fiji Military Forces and ADF personnel from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

ADF News Operations Pacific Videos

Spirit of giving put into action in Fiji

29/01/202129/01/2021 Mike Hughes 556 Views 0 Comments

The ADF put the Christmas spirit of giving into action when 618 personnel headed to Fiji on December 24 to lend

HMAS Adelaide sailors load disaster-relief supplies onto a MRH-90 Taipan bound for Nabouwalu on the island of Vanua Levu, Fiji, during Operation Fiji Assist 20-21. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

ADF Operations Pacific

Helicopters vital in delivery of supplies to Fiji

25/01/2021 Mike Hughes 565 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Adelaide’s embarked MRH-90 Taipan helicopters played a vital role in delivering much-needed supplies to Fijian communities that had been

Soldiers from the 10th Force Support Battalion drive a light amphibious resupply cargo 5 onto the island of Galoa, in Fiji to drop off supplies required to repair buildings affected by Cyclone Yasa. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Sailor explains intricacies of amphibious landings

24/01/202124/01/2021 Mike Hughes 508 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Adelaide showcased its sophisticated amphibious deployment systems during Operation Fiji Assist, transporting more than 400 tonnes of disaster relief supplies from

Lieutenant Nicholas Ilijas conducts a COVID-19 test in HMAS Adelaide as part of the COVID-19 safety protocols for Operation Fiji Assist. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Strict testing proved aid capability during pandemic

23/01/202124/01/2021 Mike Hughes 422 Views 0 Comments

Operation Fiji Assist and HMAS Adelaide have shown the ADF can still provide international humanitarian disaster relief even in a pandemic.

Captain Nicole Eltringham tests water from a desalination system in Vanua Levu on Operation Fiji Assist. Photo by Lieutenant Phillip Qin.

Australian Army News Pacific Science & Technology

Providing fresh water to Fijian communities

23/01/202123/01/2021 Mike Hughes 286 Views 0 Comments

Army engineers used a heavy-water production plant to assist Fijians after more than 130,000 were left without potable water after a cyclone.

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