ADF People Archives - CONTACT magazine

Able Seaman Musician Ritnarong Coomber performs during a Christmas show in Sydney. Photo by Kate Williams Photography.

Christmas performance hard to beat

20/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 318 Views 0 Comments Navy Band

Able Seaman Ritnarong Coomber, a drummer with the Royal Australian Navy Band in Sydney, has participated in a special Christmas

Able Seaman Alexandra Manthey, second from left, holds a UK flag during a ceremony in Busan, South Korea. Story by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath. Photo by Yun, In Kyeong.

Proud to represent Australia in Korea

20/12/202421/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 720 Views 0 Comments South Korea, United Nations Command (UNC)

A deployment to South Korea has brought many ‘pinch me moments’ for Able Seaman Alexandra Manthey, who represents Australia in

Wing Commander Aarian Birch pilots his CAC Winjeel from 100 Squadron at Point Cook over the cliffs of Point Addis during the 80th commemoration of the ditched RAAF Mitchell Bomber in 1944. Story by Flying Officer Rose Gigliotti. Photo by Warrant Officer Don Kenny.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Sacrifices commemorated at 80 years on

20/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 441 Views 0 Comments RAAF Laverton, WWII

On December 11, 1944, a B-25D Mitchell bomber crashed off Point Addis, marking a tragic chapter in Australia’s wartime history.

ADF People News What's on...

SF-crewed Happy Wanderer in this year’s Sydney to Hobart

18/12/202418/12/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1169 Views 0 Comments Sydney to Hobart, Wandering Warriors

Get ready to witness an extraordinary feat of endurance and passion this Boxing Day as Team Happy Wanderer takes on

Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Richelle Turner, left, with the Governor of Peleliu Emais Roberts and Republic of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, at an exhibition of the life of Damien Parer. Story by Lieutenant Geoff Long.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Honouring the legacy of WW2 photographer

18/12/202418/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 564 Views 0 Comments Palau, US Marines, WWII

This year marks 80 years since legendary Australian war photographer Damien Parer was killed filming US Marines in action on

Andrew McAdie stands with the new M1A2 main battle tank at Bandiana North Barracks, Victoria. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Corporal Andrew Sleeman.

ADF People Australian Army

Self-confessed ‘tank nut’ embraces new Abrams

18/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 901 Views 0 Comments Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (ASEME), Bandiana, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

With 45 years in Army, Andrew McAdie (Warrant Officer Class One at weekends) has worked on tanks his whole life.

Invictus Games 2025 Team Australia captains, Caz Gladysz and Doug Griffiths proudly wear the new team polo shirt. Story by Flying Officer Tina Langridge. Photos by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Invictus Games Veterans

Invictus team captains named

10/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 831 Views 0 Comments Invictus Games

Former ADF personnel Doug Griffiths and Kaz Gladysz have been named team Australia co-captains for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025,

Attendees of a memorial service for the late Wing Commander Peter Krieg with a static display of E-7A Wedgetail aircraft at 2 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Remembering the legacy of ‘Cowboy’ Kreig

06/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1225 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, No. 2 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown

On Friday November 8, about 300 family and friends travelled from around the globe to gather in the 2 Squadron

Two cranes return Neptune A89-280 back onto its plinth at the RAAF Base Townsville entrance. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell.

ADF People History News Royal Australian Air Force

Townsville’s iconic Neptune resumes duty

04/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 842 Views 0 Comments Neptune, No. 10 Squadron, RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville

Reserve personnel used professionalism, pride and impressive trade skills to restore RAAF Base Townsville’s iconic Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune A89-280 gate

Sergeant Grant Vaughan, left, receives the Aircrew Aviator of the Year award from Commander Air Mobility Group Air Commodore Bradley Clarke and the Pathfinder Association's Jett McClenaughan, at the Air Mobility Group Pathfinder Awards dinner. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF recognises innovative Pathfinders

03/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 704 Views 0 Comments Air Mobility Group (AMG), Pathfinder Awards, RAAF Richmond

Air Mobility Group’s (AMG) annual Pathfinder Awards were held at RAAF Base Richmond on October 20 to honour the group’s

ADF People

Enlisted Aviator of the Year Award recipient

29/11/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 971 Views 0 Comments No. 35 Squadron, UNICEF

Corporal Kbora Ali is a personnel capability specialist posted to 35 Squadron. In 2016, she became the first female of

Australian Army soldier Sapper Luke Barnes leads a joint patrol with Indian Army soldiers during Exercise Austrahind 2024 in Pune, India. Story by Major Dean Benson. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People Australian Army Overseas

Combining culture and training in India

27/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1097 Views 0 Comments 13th Brigade, Army Reserve, Exercise Austrahind, India, Indian Armed Forces

From delicious food to in-depth combat engineering training, with a side of intense physical training, Exercise Austrahind served up a

Adam Bourke, left, and Major Dan Nailer fix their position during a reconnaissance of the Kapyong battlefield in the Republic of Korea. Story and photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.

ADF People Australian Army History Lest We Forget

Search continues for digger on Kapyong battlefield

27/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 987 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, Korean War, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army

An Australian Army soldier presumed to have been killed in the Korean War’s battle of Kapyong on April 24, 1951,

World War 2 RAAF veteran Cyril Rothall, who served with 3 Airfield Construction Squadron, celebrates his 100th birthday. Photo by Nicholas Gunn.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

WWII veteran ‘Flying Shovel’ celebrates centenary

26/11/202404/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 596 Views 0 Comments No. 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, WWII

On November 16, several RAAF Base Edinburgh aviators, including an airfield engineer, shared in the 100th birthday celebrations of a

Navy welcomes charity organisation Tackling Leukaemia on board during the annual Navy versus Victoria Police rugby match at HMAS Cerberus. Photo by Leading Seaman Jack Codner.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Navy

Joining forces to tackle leukaemia

22/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 816 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus

HMAS Cerberus recently welcomed charity organisation Tackling Leukaemia on board during the annual Navy versus Victoria Police rugby match, to

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Jenkins, staff officer at Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division, thanks staff at the Enoggera Health Centre, Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, after his recovery from cancer. Story and photos by Captain Peter Nugent.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

It takes an army to defeat a deadly adversary

22/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 807 Views 0 Comments Gallipoli Barracks

How do you thank someone for saving your life? CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Jenkins, staff officer at Headquarters 1st (Australian) Division,

Army Major Wendi McAdie and Warrant Officer Class One Andrew McAdie are presented their Federation Star medals by Major General Michael Krause alongside their daughter, Clancy McAdie. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Michael Banovic.

ADF People History

A life of love and service

15/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 846 Views 0 Comments Army Logistic Training Centre, Federation Star

The Federation Star for 40 years of service is a great achievement for any Defence member, but to receive it

Warrant Officer Michael O'Brien is awarded a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Coin by Susan Templeman, the Federal member for Macquarie, for Australia’s participation in The International Force East Timor, at the Windsor and District Returned Services League Sub-Branch, NSW. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photo by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

ADF People History

Personnel recognised for peacekeeping efforts

15/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 940 Views 0 Comments East Timor, INTERFET

ADF personnel have been recognised with a 25th Anniversary Commemorative Coin for Australia’s participation in the International Force for East

Private William Higgs’ newly installed headstone at Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France. Story. by Aaron Pegram. Photo courtesy of CWGC.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Search goes on for the lost but not forgotten

12/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 732 Views 0 Comments Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Unrecovered War Casualties – Army (UWC-A), Villers-Bretonneux, WWI

On Remembrance Day, as Australians reflect on the sacrifice of those who have served, the Manager of Unrecovered War Casualties

Remembrance Day is a moment to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Story by Admiral David Johnston.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

The true cost of war is human

12/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 564 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force

A Remembrance Day message from the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston. CAPTION: Remembrance Day is a moment to

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