Solomon Islands Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment visit he Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Monument during Exercise Coastwatchers 2025. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Coastwatchers cast eye on security and history

07/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1353 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Coastwatchers, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Exercise Coastwatchers, the little-known but significant training exercise between Australia and the Solomon Islands, has successfully completed rotation 11. CAPTION: Australian

A medical team from Army’s 2nd Health Battalion during Operation Render Safe 24-2, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Pacific

Army medics treat and train locals in Solomons

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1007 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands

Crocodile and pig attacks are not the typical injuries orthopaedic surgeon Major Darren Paterson is accustomed to. CAPTION: A medical team

Australian Army soldiers refuel a US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey at a refuelling point aviation during Operation Render Safe, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Story by Sergeant David Said. Photos by Corporal Sam Price.

Australian Army News Overseas

Fuelling success in Solomons for petroleum operators

04/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1852 Views 1 Comment 10 Force Support Battalion, 9 Petroleum Platoon, EOD, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands, US Marines

A refuelling point aviation (RPA) has been deployed to Solomon Islands for the first time in support of Operation Render

Australian Army Corporal Solomon Boyd and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officer Tusa consolidate explosive remnants of war during Operation Render Safe, Munda, Solomon Islands. Story by Sergeant David Said. Photos by Corporal Sam Price.

ADF People Australian Army Overseas

Soldier gets a blast from reaching his goal in Solomons

27/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1050 Views 0 Comments 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), 6th Engineer Support Regiment, EOD, Operation Render Safe, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomon Islands

Corporal Solomon Boyd achieved his goal when he deployed as an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician for the first time

Air Force aviators deployed to Solomon Islands unload a RAAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster III at Honiara Henderson Airport. Story by Major Tom Maclean. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force

ADF support for Solomon Islands election

01/05/202404/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1724 Views 0 Comments Bell 412, C-130J Hercules, C-17A Globemaster III, C-27J Spartan, No. 382 Squadron, Solomon Islands

Australian military aircraft played a major role in the Solomon Islands during national elections, moving police, military and civilian specialists

Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern, of 35 Squadron, during Operation Solania in Honiara, the Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

ADF People

Whirlwind start to loadmaster career

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1053 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania, RAAF Amberley, Solomon Islands

Since becoming a loadmaster with 35 Squadron, Corporal Mitchell Hordern’s feet have hardly touched the ground. CAPTION: Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern,

Australian Army Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Solemn service in Solomons

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1366 Views 0 Comments AFP, HMAS Choules, Pacific Games, Remembrance Day, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomon Islands

With the poignant sound of the Last Post echoing throughout the ship, HMAS Choules took an operational pause to conduct

Members of the Solomons International Assistance Force work with the Alligator Creek community to repair coastal erosion at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Alligator Creek, Solomon Islands.

Australian Army Pacific

Repairing erosion firms Pacific bonds

13/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1409 Views 0 Comments New Zealand Defence Force, Operation Lilia, Solomon Islands

ADF personnel deployed to Operation Lilia have joined Solomon Islands locals to repair coastal erosion at the front of the

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.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Surveying for the Solomons

22/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2375 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 2171 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 2212 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 1888 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 1290 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 2071 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