Pacific – Page 8 – CONTACT magazine

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2730 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

Commanding Officer HMAS Ararat Lieutenant Commander David Martinussen watches RFNS Savenaca complete a replenishment-at-sea approach during a combined patrol on Operation Solania 2022.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Sailors build friendships at sea and on land

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2936 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Ararat, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

HMAS Ararat earlier this month completed a joint maritime patrol with Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca. Ararat

Senior Constable Adrien Lamu and working dog Nym from the RPNGC K-9 unit prepare to board a RAAF C-27J Spartan as part of Operation Kimba. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos

PNG canine squad travels in style with RAAF

22/06/202222/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2665 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, C-27J Spartan, Military Working Dogs, No. 23 Squadron, Operation Kimba, RPNGC, Service Dogs

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has helped move the highly skilled Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) canine squad across

Operation Kimba Contingent Commander Wing Commander Michael Rouhan, right, speaks with Superintendent Steven Francis from the Royal PNG Constabulary at the Air Movements Wing – Port Moresby. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Spartan takes off for PNG election support

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2108 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Kimba, Papua New Guinea

A RAAF C-27J Spartan flight carrying 20 personnel from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) marked the beginning of air

Soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces share a traditional Fijian Lovo with Australian Army soldiers from 8/9 RAR during the closing ceremony of Exercise Coral Soldier at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane. Story by Captain Taylor Lynch. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Diggers treated to a Fijian feed

17/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2407 Views 1 Comment 8/9 RAR, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) soldiers in Brisbane treated their Australian counterparts to a meal cooked in a traditional

Aircraftman Sam Schmidt, from the No. 382 Squadron, marshals a C-130J from RAAF Base Richmond at the Air Movements Wing – Port Moresby. Story by Major Martin Hadley. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Geodhart.

Australian Army Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

ADF supports election in PNG

17/06/202222/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2261 Views 0 Comments C-130J, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, Operation Kimba, PNG elections

The main body of Australian Defence Force personnel deployed on Operation Kimba has touched down in Papua New Guinea to

Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa is farewelled from Devonport Naval Base to participate in RIMPAC 22 and for a 5.5-month deployment to the Asia Pacific region. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

HMNZS Aotearoa deployed until Christmas

16/06/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2249 Views 0 Comments HMNZS Aotearoa

Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa will be taking part in the world’s largest international maritime exercise for the

Able Seaman Boatwain Mate Linda Emelio handles lines on the quarterdeck of HMAS Canberra while departing Fleet Base East in Sydney. Photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

Five Royal Australian Navy ships deployed

15/06/202216/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3293 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Supply, hmas wa, P-8A Poseidon, RIMPAC

Five Royal Australian Navy ships will set sail from Australia over the next three weeks for regional presence deployments throughout

Royal Austrailan Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Riley Forde arrives in Honiara, Solomon Islands on a KA350 King Air, on 7 May 2022, for Operation SOLANIA: Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

King Air conducts air patrols in the Pacific

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2765 Views 0 Comments KA350 King Air, Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

A Royal Australian Air Force KA350 King Air and three pilots arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands in early May, in

Australian Army soldiers from 1 RAR train with Royal Tongan Marines on urban clearance drills at Lavarack Barracks. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photo by Sergeant Andrew Sleeman.

Australian Army News Pacific

Forces combine in lead-up to Rimpac

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2824 Views 0 Comments 1RAR, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, RIMPAC

Rehearsing urban clearance drills like a well-oiled machine, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) and His

Royal Australian Navy personnel transfer passengers from a stricken Royal Solomon Islands Police Force vessel to HMAS Ararat on May 21. Story by Captain Lily Charles.

News Pacific Police Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ararat’s crew rescues Solomon Islands police

26/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2587 Views 2 Comments HMAS Ararat, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

The crew of HMAS Ararat rescued a Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) crew last Saturday after the police vessel

Solomon Islands Police Force officers practise their knot tying skills as part of practical maritime safety training with the Australian Defence Force in the use and maintenance of aluminium long boats in Honiara. Photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF Australian Army News Pacific

Small boats, big gesture of friendship

21/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2720 Views 0 Comments Guardian-class Patrol Boat, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

Two new vessels have been handed over to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Maritime Division to support maritime

Australian Army soldiers provide guidance to PNGDF soldiers about creating a shield wall during population protection and control training as part of Exercise Olgeta Warrior. Story by Captain Jessica O’Reilly.

Australian Army News Pacific

Exchanging tactics in PNG

13/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3682 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, PNGDF

About 50 personnel from the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade spent two months providing training to the Papua New Guinea Defence

Chief of Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld and Major General Mark Goina (right), Chief of Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after signing an aviation safety memorandum of understanding at Air Transport Wing in Port Moresby. Story by John Noble.

History News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Helping restore air capability in PNG

06/05/202212/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3211 Views 0 Comments PNGDF, WWII

Australia is lending a helping hand in getting the air arm of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) back

Australian Army sapper Logan Kocbek, from 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, and an RFMF engineer secure timber decking during construction of the footbridge. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Corporal Matthew Kenny.

Australian Army News Pacific

Building bridges with Fiji

06/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2662 Views 0 Comments 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

A four-hour journey at 3am and a broken-down bus didn’t stop Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) engineers farewelling their

Commander of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, leads the Australian Army contingent in the Brisbane City Anzac Day parade. Story and photo by Major Roger Brennan.

Australian Army News Pacific

Pacific mateship on show in Anzac Day parade

29/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2616 Views 0 Comments 7th Brigade, ANZAC Day 2022, Gallipoli Barracks, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Personnel from the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade gathered across Gallipoli Barracks to commemorate Anzac Day, and also took part in

Papua New Guinea Defence Force and Australian Army personnel who were classmates at the Royal Military College at Duntroon are reunited at the Headquarters 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, in Wewak, Papua New Guinea. Story by Captain Diana Jennings.

Australian Army News Pacific

Surprise reunion for Duntroon classmates in PNG

23/04/202227/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 4200 Views 0 Comments Duntroon, PNGDF

Three years after graduating from the Royal Military College at Duntroon, a surprise reunion has left Army and Papua New

Commander of the Australian Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, Major General Scott Winter, left, meets with New Zealand Army soldier Warrant Officer Class Two Sarah Rutene from the Solomons International Assistance Force in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Jessica O’Reilly.

Australian Army New Zealand News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Commander DJFHQ visits Solomon Islands

23/04/202227/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2719 Views 0 Comments 1st Division, Operation Lilia, Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands

A recent visit to Solomon Islands by the Commander of the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters has highlighted how much of an

New Zealand Light Armoured Vehicles on exercise. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

New Zealand sells LAVs to Chile

20/04/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5644 Views 0 Comments

The New Zealand Defence Force has finalised a sale of 22 surplus New Zealand Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAVs) to the

Palau's new Guardian-class patrol boat PSS President HI Remeliik II sails from its home port to commence maritime patrols as part of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s Operation Rai Balang. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

ADF News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Palau’s patrol boat supports Pacific priorities

11/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2649 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Solania, Pacific Class Patrol Boat, Pacific Maritime Security Program, Palau

The Australia Defence Force is working closely with the Pacific nation of Palau to enable it to patrol its vast