Solomon Islands Archives - CONTACT magazine

An Australian Army hydrographic vessel, from Littoral Riverine Survey Squadron, is hoisted into the water in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Story by Flight Lieutenant Lily Lancaster. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

Surveying for the Solomons

22/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 131 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Guardian-class, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomon Islands

On a remote island in the east of Solomon Islands, a team of specialist surveyors collected data that will help

Australian Defence Vessel, Reliant, off the coast of Savo Island, Solomon Islands as part of Exercise Longreach. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Island evacuation a first for support vessel

01/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 919 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Exercise Longreach, Solomon Islands

Australia’s new Pacific support vessel, Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, has put its disaster response capability to the test in Solomon Islands.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conduct small boats familiarisation training with Royal Solomon Islands Police Force personnel in Gizo, Western Province, Solomon Islands as part of Exercise COASTWATCHERS II. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvhill.

Australian Army News Pacific Videos

Maritime partnership on show in Solomons

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 880 Views 0 Comments 2RAR (Amphib), Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Fourteen officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) completed a boat-handling course with Army’s 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian

Private Lauren Dam deployed on Exercise Coastwatchers to support small boats familiarisation training with members of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long. Photo by Leading Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

ADF People

Medic brings love of league to the Solomons

12/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 603 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

If Army medic Private Lauren Dam gets another opportunity to deploy to Solomon Islands, she has promised to return with

Mr Des Jones commemorates the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I) as the last remaining survivor, held at the Naval Chapel, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo: byLeading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Commemorating the Battle of Savo Island

09/08/202209/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 469 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra (I), Solomon Islands, WWII

The last surviving crew member of HMAS Canberra (I), 99-year-old Des Jones, remembers how he narrowly escaped death when his

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.

ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 729 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

Australian Army padre Chaplain Haydn Parsons is presented a farewell gift by Archbishop Christopher Cardone during a service at Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF People

Chaplain’s Solomon Islands mission ends

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 729 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Lilia, Solomon Islands

Australian Army Chaplain Haydn Parsons was farewelled recently by the Archbishop of Solomon Islands during a Sunday morning service at

A memorial wreath is cast from HMAS Ararat’s quarterdeck over the final resting place of HMAS Canberra 1 near Savo Island, Solomon Islands.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Deployment offers opportunity to remember lost WW2 ship

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 623 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ararat, HMAS Canberra (I), Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

The crew of HMAS Ararat took the opportunity while deployed in the south-west Pacific on Operation Solania to hold a

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 985 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

Chaplain Haydn Parsons talks with Republic of Fijian Military Forces soldier Staff Sergeant Eliki Seasea, centre, and Pastor Martin Nehemiah at Burns Creek Clinic in Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Peter March. Photo by Corporal Jarrod McAneney.

ADF People

Chaplain helps Solomon Islands communities during lockdowns

26/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 581 Views 0 Comments COVID-19, Operation Lilia, Solomon Islands

As COVID-19 took hold in Solomon Islands, public gatherings, including religious services, ground to a halt, making the role of

RAAF aviators deployed on Operation Lilia prepare bags of rice before loading them onto C-27J Spartan aircraft for distribution to remote Solomon Islands' provinces. Story by Captain Peter March. Photo by Corporal Jarrod McAneney.

ADF News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

ADF delivers urgent supplies in Solomon Islands

23/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1447 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, COVID-19 Assist, Solomon Islands

ADF personnel have helped get urgent medical and food supplies to remote areas of Solomon Islands after a COVID-19 outbreak

The Australian Army medical team from Joint Task Group 637.3 treat a New Zealand Defence Force simulated patient during a casualty evacuation exercise at the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Headquarters, Rove. Story and photo by Major Jillian Joyce

ADF Health and Wellbeing New Zealand News Pacific

Anzac spirit on show in Solomon Islands

16/12/202118/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1247 Views 0 Comments Australian Federal Police, New Zealand Defence Force, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands

The Anzac spirit was well and truly on show during a casualty evacuation exercise in the Solomon Islands recently. CAPTION:

Australian Army Captain Celie Bright-Perry speaks with an AFP health planner during their deployment to Solomon Islands. Story by Corporal Brodie Cross. Photo by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Health and Wellbeing

Taking skills across the Pacific

10/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 432 Views 0 Comments Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands unrest

From the quiet streets of the NSW country town of Yass to the coastal regions of the Solomon Islands, the

Medical teams and Solomon Island Police Force personnel board waiting MRH-90 helicopters on HMAS Adelaide to support a medical evacuation from an island near Honiara, Solomon Islands. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

ADF involved in medical emergency mission in Solomon Islands

18/08/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3436 Views 0 Comments Solomon Islands

The Australian Defence Force’s Indo-Pacific Endeavour Task Group (IPE18) has assisted the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in rescuing four

File photo – nautical charts HMAS Melbourne. Photo by Brian Hartigan.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Australia now primary charting authority for Solomon Islands

29/09/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2716 Views 0 Comments nautical charts, Royal Australian Navy, Solomon Islands

Defence and Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Infrastructure Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning hydrography cooperation, formally assigning the