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CONTACT magazine

HMAS Canberra

HMAS Canberra berthed at the Port of Townsville, Queensland, after returning from Operation Vanuatu Assist 23. Story by Captain Joanne Leca. Photo by Lance Corporal Riley Blennerhassett.
Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Canberra home after Vanuatu relief effort

05/04/202308/04/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2466 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, HMAS Canberra, Operation Vanuatu Assist

More than 600 Australian Defence Force personnel have returned home on board HMAS Canberra after supporting Vanuatu following devastating tropical

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An Australian Army CH-47 Chinook takes off from HMAS Canberra near the coast of Futuna Island to conduct a vertical replenishment during Operation Vanuatu Assist 2023. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

Army engineers give remote island a lift

24/03/202324/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3068 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, CH-47F Chinook, HMAS Canberra, Vanuatu

Army engineers from 6th Engineer Support Regiment (6ESR) will spend several days on Vanuatu’s remote island of Futuna to help

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Lieutenant Donna Miller in the intensive care unit of HMAS Canberra during Operation Vanuatu Assist. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

Destiny of a sea warrior’s descendant

24/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2500 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Operation Vanuatu Assist

Royal Australian Navy nursing officer Lieutenant Donna Miller was destined for a life at sea. CAPTION: Lieutenant Donna Miller in

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Members of Australian Clearance Diving Team One conduct a salvage diving operation in Port Vila Harbour during Operation Vanuatu Assist. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Able Seaman Michaela Bennett.
News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

Navy divers refloat Vanuatu fisheries boat

17/03/202319/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2124 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Navy Clearance Diving Team One, Vanuatu

Royal Australian Navy clearance divers have helped the Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) salvage one of their small boats, which sunk

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From left, Leading Seaman Sevanna Tansey, Vanuatu Police Maritime Senior Inspector and Executive Officer Gary Aru and Able Seaman Sean Davies stand by the well deck of HMAS Canberra during Operation Vanuatu Assist. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

Vanuatu Policeman ready for landing

17/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2234 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Vanuatu Police Force

A member of the Vanuatu Police Force has taken advantage of HMAS Canberra’s presence in his country, taking part in

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Greg Willie, co-leader of logistics and procurement under the National Health Emergency Operation Committee, and Lieutenant Donna Miller organise goods and cargo on board HMAS Canberra in support of Operation Vanuatu Assist. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

ADF delivers vital medical supplies around Vanuatu

17/03/202318/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1937 Views 0 Comments CH-47F Chinook, HMAS Canberra, Vanuatu

Australian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters embarked on HMAS Canberra are supporting the Vanuatu Ministry of Health with delivering vital medical supplies

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Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra Captain Jace Hutchison speaks with Vanuatu media during Operation Vanuatu Assist 2023. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

Officer surprises with Pacific family ties

15/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1746 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Vanuatu

Vanuatu media outlets got a pleasant surprise when the Commanding Officer of HMAS Canberra, Captain Jace Hutchison, greeted them in their

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The Prime Minister of Vanuatu Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau Ma’aukora, centre, signs the welcome book during a tour of HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Vanuatu PM visits HMAS Canberra

15/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1679 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Vanuatu

Shortly after HMAS Canberra arrived in Port Vila, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau Ma’aukora received a tour

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Leading Seaman Avation Support Alyssa Clark marshalls a US Army AH-64E Apache on the deck of HMAS Canberra while the ship is alongside at Fleet Base East in Sydney. Story and photos by Petty Officer Helen Frank.
Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy USA Videos 

AH-64E Apache visits HMAS Canberra in Sydney

01/03/202301/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3029 Views 0 Comments AH-64 Apache, Avalon Airshow, Aviation Command, Fleet Base East, HMAS Canberra

A visiting US Army AH-64E Apache stopped by to say “howdy” to HMAS Canberra in Sydney last week, taking the opportunity

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Ships ported at Fleet Base East, which will be open to the public on Sunday, February 26. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Ragless. Photo by Warrant Officer Shane Cameron.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Navy opens the hatches to Sydney

22/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3547 Views 3 Comments Commander Australian Fleet, Fleet Base East, HMAS Arunta, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Penguin, HMAS Sydney

After a 10-year hiatus, Navy ships and shore establishments around Sydney will swing open the hatches to welcome the community

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Lieutenant Melissa Osmand inspects packed red blood cells stored in a dedicated blood fridge on board HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

Army scientist deployed at sea

27/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1636 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, Maritime Operational Health Unit

Army’s scientific officer Lieutenant Melissa Osmand brought her pathology skills to HMAS Canberra’s on-board hospital, ensuring personnel were looked after

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Royal Australian Navy medical officers Commander Robert Turner and Lieutenant Cody Nash transfer a simulated casualty from a MH-60R Seahawk during a training exercise on board HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski.
News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

Medical ’emergency’ tests skills

09/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3106 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Render Safe

At the request of the government of Nauru, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) deployed a team of specialist personnel to

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Family and friends welcome home their loved ones on board HMAS Canberra as the ship returns to Fleet Base East following a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Able Seaman Callum Davis.
News Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Home for Father’s Day

06/09/202208/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2043 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Supply, MV-22 Osprey, Regional Presence Deployment, Render Safe, RIMPAC, US Marines

The families of hundreds of ADF personnel lined the wharf at Fleet Base East on Father’s Day to welcome home

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Lieutenant Commander Wesley Truscott in the sick bay on board HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

From junior recruit to senior health officer in Navy’s largest ship

31/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1780 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

At the age of 15, junior recruit Wes Truscott had no idea he would become the Senior Health Officer on

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HMA Ships Canberra, Warramunga and Supply sail in formation with USS Abraham Lincoln, JS Izumo, USS Mobile Bay, USS Spruance, USS Gridley, JS Takanami, and USS Sampson in the Pacific Ocean. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Liam Sulley.
News Overseas Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Canberra home from 3-month Pacific deployment

26/08/202227/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2821 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, MV-22 Osprey, Regional Presence Deployment, RIMPAC, Sri Lankan Marines

After almost three months at sea on a regional presence deployment through the Pacific, HMAS Canberra is heading back to

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Commander Patricia Kemp, Lieutenant Commander Wesley Truscott, President of Nauru Lionel Aingimea, Dr Helen Cheney and Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra Captain Jace Hutchison on board Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
News Royal Australian Navy 

President’s thanks for making Nauru safer

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2219 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Render Safe

The President of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea, thanked the Royal Australian Navy for its efforts on Operation Render Safe during a visit to

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HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2019 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

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Maritime Logistics Officer Sub-Lieutenant Amelia Ross holds an assortment of coffee products in the dry store of HMAS Canberra during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in the Pacific Ocean. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

Coffee and ice cream keep crew happy

12/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1323 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

Catering at sea for several weeks during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 required careful logistical planning. CAPTION: Maritime

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Lieutenant Commander David Gould, First Lieutenant of HMAS Canberra, squares away lines as the ship conducts Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in the Pacific Ocean. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.
ADF People 

Celebrating a 40-year milestone

12/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1654 Views 1 Comment HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

‘When I stop having fun I’ll go,’ is the mantra Lieutenant Commander David Gould has lived by and the reason

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Soldiers from 2RAR secure a beach as part of a small-boat operations activity during RIMPAC. Photos: Corporal John Solomon.
Australian Army News USA 

Jumping into action

09/08/202215/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3192 Views 0 Comments 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, F470 Zodiac, HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC, US Marines

Landing forces put their training to the test in a multi-national reconnaissance mission during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)

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