Holsworthy Barracks Archives - CONTACT magazine

Sapper Dean Purcell and explosive detection dog Ledge before a morning run at the School of Military Engineering at Holsworthy. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Explosive detection dogs have a blast on the job

04/07/202504/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1189 Views 0 Comments 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, EDD, Holsworthy Barracks, improvised explosive device (IED), Military Working Dogs, School of Military Engineering

Sapper Dean Purcell starts the day with a smile. CAPTION: Sapper Dean Purcell and explosive detection dog Ledge before a morning

Army Corporal Mark Donaldson, VC, speaks to soldiers during a visit to the Trainee Rehabilitation Wing on Holsworthy Barracks, NSW. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photos by Sergeant Brodie Cross.

ADF People Australian Army History

VC recipients inspire the troops

21/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1758 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, Mark Donaldson VC

Trooper Mark Donaldson, VC, remembered thinking to himself that there was no one coming to help. CAPTION: Army Corporal Mark Donaldson,

The replica Russian Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle on display during its unveiling at the Australian Army Museum of Military Engineering in Holsworthy. Story and photos by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton.

Australian Army History News Veterans

Tale of a sniper rifle has double-barrelled ending

21/01/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1503 Views 0 Comments 1RAR, Army Museum of Military Engineering, Bandiana, Holsworthy Barracks, Singleton, Vietnam War

Two Australian soldiers were killed and two wounded by sniper fire in the rice fields of Vietnam in January 1966.

An Army UH-60M Black Hawk conducts deck landings during first-of-class flight trials on board Navy’s multi-role aviation training vessel MV Sycamore in Jervis Bay. Story by Major Cameron Jamieson. Photos by Private Alex Brown.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy Videos

Sea change for Army’s new Black Hawks

27/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3096 Views 0 Comments 6th Aviation Regiment, Aviation Command, Holsworthy Barracks, Jervis Bay, MV Sycamore, UH-60M Black Hawk

Army’s UH-60M Black Hawks gained their sea legs at recent first-of-class flight trials, completing the first phase of the helicopter’s

Sergeant Alan Rowell with the conference table he made for the Chief of Army through the Holsworthy MakerSpace. Story and photos by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Making a space for manufacturing

28/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1678 Views 0 Comments 3d Printer, Holsworthy Barracks, MakerSpace

Fox Rowell’s husband used to finish each year feeling the pressures of military life and talking about discharging. CAPTION: Sergeant Alan

Parents, Sergeant Kim and Mrs Clare James with their kids, displaying their Child of ADF Medallions and certificates. Story by Ben Wickham. Photos by Ben Wickham.

ADF People

Recognising the ADF’s youngest supporters

24/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1035 Views 0 Comments Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS), Holsworthy Barracks

More than 150 Sydney-based children of ADF members have been presented with medallions, commending them for resilience and personal growth

From left, Army Privates Robert Leighton, Adithya Biju and Lachlan Coe, from the School of Military Engineering, create 3D models at the Makerspace facility at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney. Story and photos by Sergeant Brodie Cross.

Australian Army News Science & Technology

Three dimensions of problem solving

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1526 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, National Science Week

Creativity and innovation were on display at the Makerspace facility in Holsworthy Barracks during National Science Week 2023, with soldiers

An Australian Army special forces soldier from 2nd Commando Regiment and a United States Army soldier from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) prepare for a static-line parachuting training jump side-by-side at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney. Photos by Corporal Cameron Pegg.

Australian Army News

Special forces gear up for the unknown

26/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3138 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Exercise Talisman Sabre, Holsworthy Barracks, RAAF Richmond, US Army

Special operations force elements from Australia, Papua New Guinea and the United States came together at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney

Doug and Kaye Baird, parents of Australian Army soldier Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG, and brother Brendan Baird during the 2nd Commando Regiment memorial service at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney. Story by Sergeant Matthew Bickerton. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

More to Baird, VC, than the warrior

03/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2046 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Afghanistan, Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG, Holsworthy Barracks, Victoria Cross

Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG, is often remembered as a face-painted warrior from the popular portrait, but his closest mates

Australian Army Captain Sharon Chan's 2023 Prince of Wales Award has allowed her to expand her professional knowledge and capability. Story by Emily Egan.

ADF People

Awards worth winning for reservists

21/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1048 Views 0 Comments ADF Reserve, Holsworthy Barracks, Prince of Wales Award

Applications are open for the 2024 Prince of Wales Awards, which recognise the contribution made by reservists and their civilian employers to

Major General Paul Kenny, left, Special Operations Commander for Australia, presents Major Paul Dunbavin from the Australian Defence Force School of Special Operations with his Chief of Army gold commendation at Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney.

ADF People

Troops get gold for Olympic Games program

05/04/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 4548 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Holsworthy Barracks, Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)

Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) personnel who supported Australia’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games athletes and coaches were awarded a Chief of

Captain Harrison Keynes from 17th Sustainment Brigade undertakes Combat Marksmanship Continuum at the Weapon Training Simulation System facility at Holsworthy Barracks. Story by Captain Andrew Page. Photo by Captain Thomas Kaye.

Australian Army News

Training to survive a threat situation

18/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1866 Views 0 Comments 17th Sustainment Brigade, Army Combatives Program, Holsworthy Barracks

Members of Army’s 17th Sustainment Brigade brushed up on their warfighting skills on a Combat Behaviours training course. CAPTION: Captain

Sapper Alistair Wilson from the School of Military Engineering at Wellington Barracks, London. Story by Lieutenant Anthony Martin. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

ADF People

Moment in time this soldier will never forget

20/09/202225/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1753 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022, School of Military Engineering

Being selected as one of 40 ADF personnel to travel to London to be part of the Commonwealth contingent for

Princess Anne talks with soldiers from 145th Signal Squadron during her visit to Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Sergeant Tristan Kennedy.

Australian Army News

Royal visitor at Holsworthy Barracks

15/04/202216/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3195 Views 0 Comments Holsworthy Barracks, Royal Australian Corps of Signals, Royal Australian Corps of Transport

Soldiers from the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) and the Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) provided a royal