ADF People – Page 25 – CONTACT magazine

Australian Army officer Major Bayani Fernandez (centre) shares a laugh with his counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023 in the Philippines. Story by Captain Joanne Leca.

Returning to the Philippines

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2042 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

An Australian soldier originally from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has returned home during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. CAPTION: Australian

Invictus Games 2023 Team Australia competitor Able Seaman Cooper Blackwood at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

On the road to recovery

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1425 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Cooper Blackwood fractured and dislocated his C5 C6 vertebrae in a diving accident while holidaying with

Lieutenant Commander Michael Booth (Staff College Student) operating a Singapore Armed Forces bridging lighter at Selatar Camp. Story by Commander Greg Swinden.

ADF People

Hard work comes with lighter moments

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1489 Views 0 Comments Singapore Armed Forces

Lieutenant Commander Michael Booth recently took command of a German-built bridging lighter, a vessel used to move equipment and personnel

ADF People

Bringing about positive change

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1284 Views 0 Comments

A passion for helping people and bringing about positive change led Leading Seaman Bradley Harris to his role as an

The Australian Imperial Force Mouquet Farm Memorial near the village of Pozières, France. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

Mates first, then and now

30/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2124 Views 0 Comments 31st/42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment, France, Pozières, WWI

Private Wayne Drage’s voice wavered as he spoke about the day his great-great uncle was wounded during the battle of

The Brothers in Arms memorial to Privates James and John Hunter near Ypres, Belgium. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe History Lest We Forget

Soldiers retrace diggers’ footsteps

30/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2602 Views 1 Comment 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium, WWI, Ypres

On the night he died in 1977, Jim Hunter called for his older brother Jack. CAPTION: The Brothers in Arms memorial

Invictus Games 2023 Team Australia competitor Danielle Hale at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Tackling her fears

30/08/202303/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1531 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, assistance dogs, Invictus Games

Three broken ribs might have derailed most people’s Invictus Games preparation, but not Danielle Hale. CAPTION: Invictus Games 2023 Team Australia

Defence Blood Drive Ambassador Group Captain Mike Burgess-Orton at Red Cross Lifeblood. Story by John Noble. Photo by Flight Sergeant Kev Berriman.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Be the type to give blood

30/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1197 Views 0 Comments Red Cross Lifeblood

Air Force members are rolling up their sleeves and taking part in this year’s Defence Blood Drive by donating life-saving

Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award ambassador Corporal Justin Wells picks a poppy beside the Le Hamel Australian Corps Memorial, France. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Europe Lest We Forget

On the spot of an heroic stand

29/08/202329/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2454 Views 0 Comments France, Victoria Cross, Villers-Bretonneux, WWI

Walking in the footsteps of a Victoria Cross (VC) recipient from World War I gave a Jonathan Church Good Soldiering

Invictus Games Team Australia competitor James Barker at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Belinda Barker. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People

Feeling like a winner already

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1591 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

The Invictus Games are about much more than just sport. The event captures hearts, encourages mateship and uncovers tenacity and

RAAF Corporal Zac Simpson lines up the ball during the 2023 Australian Country Championships in Shepparton. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photos by Leigh Momk.

ADF People

Sticking it out on the pitch

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1563 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

Defence field hockey teams clashed with some of the nation’s best at this year’s Australian Country Championships in Shepparton. CAPTION: RAAF

Lieutenant Kento Tago on the bridge of HMAS Choules during Exercise Malabar, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Tahlia Merigan. Photo by Leading Seaman David Cox.

ADF People

From Japan to the RAN

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2169 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, HMAS Choules, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Exercise Malabar provided Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officer Lieutenant Kento Tago an opportunity to re-connect with his Japanese heritage. CAPTION: Lieutenant

RAAF country liaison officers Flight Lieutenants Inderbir Singh (left) and Darpan Dhawan chat with Indian Navy naval air operations officer INAS 312 Lieutenant Sanjana Kamat and qualified navigation instructor INAS 316 Lieutenant Commander Lokesh Kumar (right). Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet. Photo by Private Dean Armstrong.

ADF People

Standing side by side

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2834 Views 0 Comments Exercise Malabar, Indian Armed Forces, Indo-Pacific Endeavour

Two RAAF members combined their Indian and Australian heritage to facilitate cultural understanding during this year’s Exercise Malabar. CAPTION: RAAF country

Invictus Games 2023 Team Australia competitor Able Seaman Jamie McGlinchey at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Belinda Barker. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People Competitions

Stubbornness shakes off the shackles

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1969 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

Able Seaman Jamie McGlinchey counts one of his greatest achievements as making the Australian Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 team. CAPTION: Invictus

Private Thomas Adamson with a Minimi machine gun during protection operations by Battle Group Waratah in and around the town of Ingham, Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Corporal Michael Currie.

ADF People

Sticking with it

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2015 Views 1 Comment 1st/19th Royal NSW Regiment (RNSWR), Army Reserve, Exercise Talisman Sabre

A small country town near Townsville, Queensland, has gave a 22-year-old Australian Army reserve soldier from the central-west of NSW

Flight Lieutenant Carl Trindorfer takes aim during Exercise Coolshot 2023 at Mount Hotham, Victoria. Story by Wing Commander Michelle Oakden. Photo by Trooper Joseph Bruce.

ADF People Competitions

RAAF triumphs at skiing championship

25/08/202304/01/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1660 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport

For the first time in more than 15 years, the Air Force Nordic skiing and biathlon team won the ADF

Invictus Games Team Australia competitor Former Army Craftsman Erin Brigden at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen NSW. Story by Tina Langridge. Photos by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

ADF People

Finally putting herself first

25/08/202303/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1728 Views 0 Comments ADF Sport, Invictus Games

Erin Brigden’s primary motivation for taking part in Invictus Games Düsseldorf is deeply personal. CAPTION: Invictus Games Team Australia competitor Former