NAIDOC Week Archives - CONTACT magazine

Elders, students and community members from the South East Queensland Indigenous community board a 36 Squadron C-17 Globemaster III for a NAIDOC familiarisation flight from RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks.

First time flying

01/09/202303/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1811 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, No. 36 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

As the rear ramp lowered mid-flight on a 36 Squadron C-17 Globemaster III, Arielle Wilson, an Indigenous student from Bremer

Corporal Jacob Cutmore passes the ball to Captain Charlotte Hargreaves during a game at the 2023 ACT NAIDOC Touch Football carnival on July 15. Story by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

More than a touch of camaraderie in carnival

14/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1667 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, NAIDOC Week

One arm grasping the ball, the other pumping the air, a full-length run of the field was in play. CAPTION:

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman meets with Indigenous Elders and current serving members at the Royal Military College - Duntroon Yarning Circle, Canberra. Story by John Noble. Photo by Corporal Sam Price.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Yarning and learning

11/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1189 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, Duntroon, NAIDOC Week, Yarning Circle

Helping celebrate NAIDOC Week in early July, senior leaders of Air Force gathered with local Indigenous Elders and serving members

Defence Indigenous Elders speak during a panel for NAIDOC Week. From left, Air Force Warrant Officer Donald Taylor, Aunty Frances Visini, Aunty Lorraine Hatton, Uncle Phillip Bowie and John Love. Story and photo by Corporal Michael Rogers.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Elders take centre stage

11/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1336 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, NAIDOC Week, Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP)

Defence Indigenous Service Elders shared their experiences with hundreds of Defence personnel during a panel discussion for NAIDOC Week in

Corporal Peter Wallace at Reconciliation Place in Canberra. Story and photo by Private Nicholas Marquis.

ADF People History

Proud of his lineage

07/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1145 Views 0 Comments NAIDOC Week, NORFORCE

Heritage wasn’t openly spoken about in Corporal Peter Wallace’s household due to the death of his Aboriginal mother, Carolyn Wallace.

Performers from Wulgurukaba Traditional Custodian Group participate in a smoking ceremony to celebrate the opening of the yarning circle at RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Flying Officer Sharon Sebastian. All photos by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

ADF People History

A space to yarn on Gurrumbilbarra country

07/07/202307/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1222 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, NAIDOC Week, RAAF Townsville

Members of the Wulgurukaba people on Gurrumbilbarra country have officially opened a yarning circle at RAAF Base Townsville with a

Vanessa Trundle has broken the mould to become the only Indigenous woman to become Base Manager for Royal Australian Air Force Bases Pearce, Learmonth, Curtin, the Harold E Holt Defence Precinct and Cocos Islands. Story by Peta Magorian. Photo by Private Reece Oakes.

ADF People

If you can dream it you can be it

07/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 942 Views 0 Comments Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Harold E. Holt Defence Precinct, NAIDOC Week, RAAF Learmonth, RAAF Pearce

A child of the stolen generation, Vanessa Trundle has always been determined to follow her grandmother’s advice – to free

Rhan Hooper chats with Indigenous Liaison Officer Flight Lieutenant Sarah Woods during his visit to the Yarning circle at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Taylor Anderson.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Defence links to indigenous artefact

07/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1349 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, RAAF Amberley

A suspected World War 2-era nulla nulla, gifted to former Brisbane Lions AFL player Rhan Hooper, was the catalyst for

Australian Army soldier Lance Corporal Ces Whap, a patrolman with the 51st Battalion, The Far North Queensland Regiment. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

ADF People History

Walking in his ancestors’ footsteps

04/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1147 Views 0 Comments 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment, Indigenous soldiers, NAIDOC Week

When the call went out to help protect Australia’s northern tip against the Japanese, both Lance Corporal Ces Whap’s grandfathers

Leading Aircraftman David Skeen, 13 Squadron chef, prepares food in the kitchen of the officers mess at RAAF Base Darwin in the Northern Territory. Story by Flight Lieutenant Greg Hinks. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

ADF People

The right ingredients for a good career

04/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 811 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

Indigenous knowledge and culture is important to Darwin-based 13 Squadron chef, Leading Aircraftman David Skeen, who grew up in the

Chief Petty Officer Marine Technician Barry Watego at Fleet Base East, Sydney. Story by Corporal Veronica O’Hara. Photo by Able Seaman Jasmine Moody.

ADF People

Uncle seeks the best from his crew

04/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1305 Views 2 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Adelaide, NAIDOC Week, Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP)

When a Torres Strait Islander sailor started calling Chief Petty Officer Barry Watego ‘Uncle’, other sailors were intrigued and asked

Indigenous Advisory Committee members Patrick Johnson, left, and Kyle Vander-Kuyp are joined by Air Mobility Group Warrant Officer Stephen Weaver, centre, in a race with local kids on Thursday Island. Story by Flight Lieutenant Suellen Heath. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Reaching new heights through Olympic partnership

22/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2224 Views 0 Comments Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), C-27J Spartan, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

A new partnership developed between Air Force and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) was celebrated during a recent trip to the

Mother and daughter duo, Scartisha Ningella, left, and Lucielle Jimbidie, at the Pilbara Regiment enlistment ceremony at Defence Force Recruiting in Perth. Story by Peta Magorian. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People

Standing up for community and Country

19/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1884 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, NORFORCE, Regional Force Surveillance Group, The Pilbara Regiment

The Pilbara Regiment welcomed three new Indigenous recruits on July 8 during an enlistment ceremony at Defence Force Recruiting in

Australian Olympic Committee Indigenous Advisory Committee members and former Olympic athletes Kyle Vander-Kuyp (left) and Patrick Johnson during a flight over the Torres Strait Islands in an Air Force C-27J. Story by Flight Lieutenant Suellen Heath. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force

‘Best, best, best flight ever’ during NAIDOC Week

13/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2094 Views 1 Comment C-27J Spartan, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

A specially organised NAIDOC Week flight for Kaurareg traditional owners allowed them to see an Elder relative’s gravesite which they hadn’t been

Corporal Tara Enchong's career has grown with the help of her mentor, Squadron Leader Simon Longley. Story by John Noble.

ADF People

Building careers through cultural understanding

08/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1477 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, RAAF Amberley

The growing career of Corporal Tara Enchong is a success story of Air Force’s Cross Cultural Mentoring Program, which builds

Navy's Inaugural Indigenous Cultural Performer, Able Seaman Aviation Support Lynton Robbins plays the yidaki/didgeridoo at Garden Island Defence Precinct, Sydney. Story by Leading Seaman Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

ADF People Videos

Navy’s first Indigenous Cultural Performer leads the way

08/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1629 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, Navy Band, Navy Indigenous Development Program

When Able Seaman Lynton Robbins joined the Royal Australian Navy, he never imagined he would one day be part of shaping

Aunty Deb Booker, Air Force Elder. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Dion Isaacson.

ADF People Videos

Advocate for meaningful change together

06/07/202206/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1445 Views 0 Comments Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

CAPTION: Aunty Deb Booker, Air Force Elder. Photo by Flight Lieutenant Dion Isaacson. A message from Air Force Indigenous Elder

Chris Goodrum (17 years old) from The Murri School, also known as The Aboriginal and Islander Independent Community School at Acacia Ridge, staring out the window of C-27J Spartan, as part of a NAIDOC Week visit to RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Flying Officer Greg Hinks.

ADF People

First time in the sky broadens horizons

06/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1504 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week, No. 35 Squadron, RAAF Amberley

When Chris Goodrum, 17, set foot on the tarmac at RAAF Base Amberley, he could barely contain his excitement. CAPTION:

Royal Australian Navy's inaugural Indigenous cultural performer, Able Seaman Aviation Support Lynton Robbins plays the yidaki/didgeridoo at Garden Island Defence Precinct, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

A time to celebrate Indigenous culture

01/07/202201/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1439 Views 1 Comment Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for Australians to recognise the rich history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Australian Army soldier Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment uses spare materials to enhance the living quarters of AACAP 2022 contingent members living at Camp Birt near Gapuwiyak, on June 22. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

ADF People

Carpenter fulfills calling at AACAP

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1520 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

With both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan is excited to be deployed on his first Army

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