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CONTACT magazine

Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

St John Ambulance Registered Nurse Diana Wong chats with Australian Army medic Private Brenden Walker from the 1st Combat Health Battalion at Batemans Bay. Photo by Sergeant Bill Solomou.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Videos 

Army medical team treat civvies in Batemans Bay

09/01/202009/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5366 Views 2 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Stories of burnt homes and shattered lives have been shared with an Army medical team, in a departure from the usual tales of soldiers’ training injuries.

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A Royal New Zealand Air Force NH-90 is unloaded off a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft at RAAF Base Richmond during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Corporal Nicci Freeman.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

Globemaster delivers Kiwi helicopters for Bushfire Assist

08/01/202011/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3624 Views 3 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

A RAAF C-17A Globemaster delivered the first of three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH-90 helicopters to Australia as part of Operation Bushfire Assist.

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A 5th Aviation Regiment MRH90 Taipan after a hard day's work on Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20 duty. 5 Aviation Regiment photo.
Australian Australian Army News Videos 

MRH90 graphically demos poor air quality

08/01/202008/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6179 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

5th Aviation Regiment CO published photos that graphically demonstrate the poor quality of the air across much of Australia’s south east this week.

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HMAS Adelaide as seen through the bridge window of MV Sycamore in Twofold Bay, New South Wales. Photo by Commander Brinckmann.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos 

HMAS Adelaide on standby as safety island

08/01/202009/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2307 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Royal Australian Navy’s largest ship, HMAS Adelaide, joined HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore in support of Operation Bushfire Assist earlier this week.

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Smoke haze over mountains near Cooma, New South Wales, as viewed from a No 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon conducting damage assessment and surveillance in the bushfire-affected area. Photo by Sergeant Murray Staff.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

Poseidon’s eyes in the sky prove invaluable

08/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1901 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon is being used daily to provide vital information to firefighting crews on the ground as part of Operation Bushfire Assist.

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No. 23 Squadron air movements personnel load an Australian Army 6th Engineer Support Regiment water purification system on to a C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Amberley, destined for Kangaroo Island off South Australia. Photo: Corporal Jessica de Rouw.
Australian Australian Army News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

C-17 delivery turns sea water into drinking water

08/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2994 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

A RAAF C-17A Globemaster has flown from Brisbane to Adelaide with a water purification and desalination system (WPDS) to supply drinking

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Corporal Luke Jackson from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment assembles an Australian Army mobile water filtration system at the Kingscote town jetty on Kangaroo Island. The mobile plant will turn sea water into drinking water for residents of the island. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
ADF Australian News Videos 

Op Bushfire Assist boss issues guidance to his troops

08/01/202008/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3551 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Commander of Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20 Major General Jake Ellwood has issued a Facebook video (and, presumably, also a ‘normal-means’

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Reservists from the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment, load vehicles onto the Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis, South Australia, during Op Bushfire Assist. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

More Army resources roll out for bushfire support

07/01/202007/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2829 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The Australian Army continues to roll out more and more personnel – reserves and regulars – and equipment in support

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The flight deck glows orange from bushfire smoke as the crew of a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules attempts to land at Merimbula airfield to deploy fire and rescue crews to assist fighting the bushfires. Photo by Sergeant Christopher Dickson.
Australian News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF Op Bushfire Assist update 7 January

07/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2648 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The Royal Australian Air Force issued the following update on its Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20 operations this morning… ➡️ No.

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Plant operators Cpl Duncan Keith and Sapper Ian Larner of the 22nd Engineer Regiment use a 434 backhoe to assist staff from Forestry Management Victoria to clear fire-damaged trees from the Great Alpine Road between Bairnsdale and Omeo during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Private Michael Currie.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Army’s Op Bushfire Assist update 6 January

06/01/202006/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4226 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Army issued the following update of its bushfire assistance operations today. CAPTION: Plant operators Cpl Duncan Keith and Sapper Ian

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A RNZAF No.3 SQN NH90 helicopter is loaded onto a RAAF C-17, on its way to assist with the Australian bushfires. NZDF photo.
Australian New Zealand News Operations Royal Australian Air Force 

First RNZAF chopper on its way

06/01/202007/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3932 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

The first of three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters and its crew departed for Nowra, New South Wales,

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Soldier from the Australian Army's 1st Brigade – mainly 7RAR – parade in Adelaide in preparation for departure to assist on Opertion Bushfire Assist 19-20.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

1st Brigade joining bushfire operations

05/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4418 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Major elements of the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade are mobilising to assist on Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. CAPTION: Soldier from

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A New Zealand Defence Force firefighter works to control bush fires near Wauchope, New South Wales. NZDF photo.
Australian New Zealand News Operations 

New Zealand sending helicopters, engineers to bushfires

05/01/202005/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2478 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Today, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that the New Zealand Defence Force force would assist Australia’s response to the

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Australian Army Trooper Duncan Rough on a property in Gelantipy conducts damage assessments and checks on the wellbeing of local farmers.
Australian Australian Army News 

Details of Reserve Call Out released

05/01/202005/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5909 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

At the request of the government, in order to support national disaster relief efforts, Governor-General of Australia General David Hurley, has issued

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A family boards an Australian Army Blackhawk helicopter at Omeo Showgrounds, Victoria for evacuation to RAAF Base East Sale, during Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.
Australian Australian Army News Operations 

Army’s choppers get stuck in to bushfire evacuations

05/01/202006/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2795 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20

Aircrews from 5th and 6th Aviation Regiments, Australian Army, are busy helping State emergency services to air evacuate dozens of people

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Evacuees from Mallacoota, Victoric, disembark HMAS Choules at Western Port. Photo by Petty Officer Nina Fogliani.
ADF Australian News Operations 

NZ and Singapore Defence Forces adding to Op Bushfire Assist

05/01/202007/01/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3566 Views 0 Comments Operation Bushfire Assist 19-20