Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Navy sailors and officers from HMAS Toowoomba’s embarked MH-60R aircraft “Valkyrie” transfer passengers during an exercise off the coast of Western Australia as the ship prepares for regional presence deployment 2023. Story by Lieutenant Max Logan. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.

Toowoomba’s pre-deployment training

29/09/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2960 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base West, HMAS Albany, HMAS Toowoomba, MH-60R Seahawk, Regional Presence Deployment

It’s been a busy program for Frigate HMAS Toowoomba during a transit north from her homeport of Fleet Base West,

Australian Army soldiers prepare to participate in a live-fire platoon attack at Cultana Training Area as part of 9th Brigade's Exercise Rhino Run 2023. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Sergeant Peng Zhang.

Australian Army News

Combat in the outback

29/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2088 Views 0 Comments 9th Brigade, Cultana, Exercise Rhino Run

Standards were high as soldiers from South Australia’s 9th Brigade completed a major live-fire warfighting exercise at Cultana Training Area.

Students from Rockhampton State High School with Army soldiers Private Ben Blain and Corporal Steven Gross. Photo by Nel Archer.

Australian Army News

Operation Army hits Rockhampton school kids

29/09/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1754 Views 0 Comments 31st/42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, Defence Work Experience Program, G-wagon

Operation Army arrived in Rockhampton to give local school students valuable insights into the diverse range of career opportunities in

tralian Army soldiers and Indonesian soldiers conduct a night assault at the Darwin Military Museum as East Point, NT. Story by Major Dan Mazurek. Photo by Captain Annie Richardson.

Australian Army News

5RAR welcomes Indonesian raiders to NT

29/09/202306/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1881 Views 0 Comments 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Exercise Wirra Jaya, RAAF Darwin, Robertson Barracks, TNI, Zodiac

There were a lot of big smiles and hugs in the small receiving terminal at RAAF Base Darwin as the

Members of the woman’s ADF Rugby League team form a huddle with the PNGDF Rugby League team after a friendly exhibition match at the Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, PNG. Story by Squadron Leader Amanda Scott. Photos by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

ADF People

An adrenaline rush on the field

29/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 926 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, PNGDF

Members of ADF Rugby League joined the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII and junior teams as part of their tour to

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Samantha May, of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, with local children in Papua New Guinea. Story by Captain Diana Jennings. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

ADF People

Self-confidence key to success in traditionally male role

29/09/202315/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1943 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, PNGDF

Lieutenant Samantha May is a tenacious individual, taking on challenges that most, including herself, would never have imagined in their

Commander 6th Brigade Brigadier Greg Novak uses the ceremonial axe to officially open the 6th Engineer Support Regiment Memorial Walk at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photos by Warrant Officer Class 2 Kim Allen.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News

Army’s largest engineer regiment turns 20

29/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1916 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, RAAF Amberley, Royal Australian Engineers

More than 150 soldiers representing almost 30 different trades formed up on the 6th Engineer Support Regiment (6ESR) parade ground

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Brigade and the Armed Forces of the Philippines travel by Zodiac small craft from Darwin to Channel Island, NT, to conduct an assault as part of Exercise Predator's Run. Story by Major Dan Mazurek. Photos by Corporal Tenikah Mills.

Australian Army Videos

Five-nation exercise in Top End

27/09/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2644 Views 0 Comments 1st Brigade, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Exercise Carabaroo, Predators Run

More than 100 soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines participated in Exercise Carabaroo in Darwin alongside soldiers from

HMAS Maryborough personnel march past the Maryborough Cenotaph during their freedom-of-entry parade. Story by Midshipman Jackson Marsh.

News Royal Australian Navy

A special march through namesake city

27/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1076 Views 0 Comments Freedom of Entry, HMAS Maryborough

Fraser Coast residents lined the streets and cheered as the crew of HMAS Maryborough marched through its namesake city on

A young boy is fitted with an Army radio during the 31st/42nd Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve open day. Story by Captain Cath Batch. Photos by Susanna Beyer.

Australian Army News

Recruiting them younger and younger

27/09/202304/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1577 Views 0 Comments 31st/42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, Army Reserve, Jezzine Barracks, Recruiting

What started out as a normal open day at Jezzine Barracks, Townsville, for 31st/42nd Battalion, the Royal Queensland Regiment (31/42RQR),

Signaller Matthew Crawford, of 8th Signal Regiment, helps 144th Signal Squadron test its high-frequency capability during Exercise Rhino Run. Story by Captain Adrienne Goode. Photos by Captain Peter March.

Australian Army News

Signallers dial up on the run

27/09/202303/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1409 Views 0 Comments 144th Signal Squadron, 8th Signal Regiment, 9th Brigade, Cultana, Exercise Rhino Run

144th Signal Squadron was bolstered with support from 8th Signal Regiment to provide the full scope of communications and information

HMAS Hobart ship's company in the Captain Cook Graving Dock, Fleet Base East, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Eliza Von Thrum. Photo by Able Seaman Benjamin Ricketts.

News Royal Australian Navy

Green ghost is shipshape after mega maintenance cycle

27/09/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2087 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Hobart

HMAS Hobart, affectionately known as ‘the green ghost’ – and already eight years old! – recently received a much-needed refresh

An Australian Army sapper and a soldier of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force help renovate a school during Exercise Puk Puk, Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Story by Major Taylor Lynch. Photos by Corporal Brandon Grey.

Australian Army News Overseas Videos

Building relationships in PNG

27/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2496 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, British Armed Forces, Exercise Puk Puk, PNGDF

Tradespeople from three nations are renovating a school building for the children of Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) personnel

Australian Army medical officer Major Peter Del Fante has a discussion with Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States Navy personnel during Forward Deployable Preventative Medicine Unit training at La Union High School in the Philippines for Exercise Pacific Partnership 2023Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photos by Sergeant David Said.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Overseas

First doctor visit for some in Philippines

27/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1578 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, HADR, Republic of Korea Navy, US Navy

A 60-year-old Filipino farmer with a months-long chronic cough and history of tuberculosis had never seen a doctor before meeting

A RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft from 10 Squadron conducts a flypast during the National Commemoration of the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Britain at Hobart Cenotaph, Tasmania. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nicholas O’Connor. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

Air Force pauses to remember historic battle

27/09/202327/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1573 Views 0 Comments Air Force Cadets, AP-3C Orion, Battle of Britain, No. 10 Squadron, Roulettes, WWII

The roar of engines overhead from a 10 Squadron AP-3C (EW) Orion heralded the start of a sombre wreath-laying ceremony

Katia Hoffmann, Luke Giacomin, Australian Army officers Major Jess Ward and Colonel Paul Graham with a fake vintage Western Australian University Regiment bugle.

Australian Army History News

Regiment happy to blow its fake horn

22/09/202314/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2050 Views 0 Comments

Around the world, vintage Western Australian University Regiment (WAUR) bugles have popped up at flea markets, antiques shops and eBay,

RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 75 Squadron transit to Sam Ratulangi Air Force Base, Manado, during Exercise Elang Ausindo 2023. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Corporal Kieren Whiteley.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Air-combat first with Indonesia

22/09/202328/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2867 Views 0 Comments Exercise Elang Ausindo, F-35A Lightning II, Indonesia, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal, TNI-AU

Set in the tropical jungle of North Sulawesi in Indonesia, Exercise Elang Ausindo kicked off on September 18 between 75

Leading Aircraftwomen Erica Moy and Tahlia Kitchin, from 83 Squadron, and Lyall Ellers reflect on his Air Force service during his 100th birthday celebrations held at his home in Seacliff, Adelaide, SA. Photos by Sergeant Nicci Freeman.

History News Royal Australian Air Force Veterans

A milestone teaches and inspires young aviators

22/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1847 Views 0 Comments RAAF Edinburgh, WWII

Members of RAAF Base Edinburgh had the privilege of sharing in the 100th birthday celebrations for a World War 2

Able Seaman Darren is enhancing his qualifications through the STEM Upskilling Program. Story by Lieutenant Rebecca Williamson. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Yuri Ramsey.

ADF People

Upskilling for success

22/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1178 Views 0 Comments STEM Upskilling Program.

Skills, qualifications and a wealth of new opportunities are just some of benefits on offer through the new STEM Upskilling Program.

Petty Officer Roland Brew with his daughter at the Members and Family Day in HMAS Watson, Sydney. Story by Sub-Lieutenant James Murphy. Photos by Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

News Royal Australian Navy

Putting faces to supporters behind the scenes

22/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1365 Views 0 Comments HMAS Watson

THE hardcourts of HMAS Watson were awash with colour in mid-September as more than 30 Defence support service providers and organisations