ADF People Archives - CONTACT magazine

Sam Boyd and his partner pose in front of an F-35 fighter after Mr Boyd's appointment as a RAAF officer, at No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

Former US Navy pilot commissioned into RAAF

01/04/202501/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 496 Views 0 Comments

Former United States Navy F/A-18 pilot and contracted civilian F-35A simulator instructor Sam Boyd has been appointed an officer in

Military Working Dog Handlers from RAAF Base Tindal, Corporal Jesse Beard (Left) with his dog Xon and Corporal Natasha Blackman with her dog Onix at the Australian International Airshow 2025. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Sebastian. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Dogs truly are a handler’s best friend

27/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 967 Views 0 Comments Australian International Airshow, Military Working Dogs, No. 17 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Military working dog, Onix, and handler are stealing the spotlight at their first Australian International Airshow with a crowd pleasing

Pilot Officer Astrid Streeter-Smith and Pilot Officer Zack Burton return from a sortie with Group Captain Scott Woodland, Air and Space Liaison at the Australian High Commission in London. Story by Pilot Officer Tim Sullivan.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Aussie pilots earn their wings in UK

25/03/202529/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 784 Views 0 Comments RAF

The first Royal Australian Air Force pilots to undergo ab initio pilot training in the UK with the Royal Air

Commanding Officer HMAS Encounter Commander Tony Ryder presents veteran Able Seaman Colin Cherry with his medals for naval service during the Korean War, surrounded by Lieutenant Commander Gavin Colgan, Petty Officer Warren Sanders and Leading Seaman Dylan Sanders.

ADF People History

Separated by decades, connected by Korea

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 792 Views 0 Comments HMAS Encounter, HMAS Sydney III, Korean War

After more than seven decades, 92-year-old veteran Able Seaman Colin Cherry received his medals for service in HMAS Sydney III

RAAF musician Corporal Robert Scott plays the bagpipes during the Anzac Day dawn service in Villers-Bretonneux, France. Story by Flight Sergeant Vicki Shelley. Photo by Corporal Robert Whitmore.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Pack your bagpipes, tour the world

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 725 Views 0 Comments Air Force Band, Villers-Bretonneux, WWI

In 2015 Corporal Rob Scott was studying at the Conservatoire de Versailles, only a few hundred metres as the crow

Personnel deployed to Operation Manitou and Operation Accordion run to support Australian veterans’ families. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring.

ADF People

ADF on the run for Legacy in Middle East

21/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 531 Views 0 Comments Headquarters Middle East, Legacy, Operation Accordion, Operation Manitou

Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to the Middle East have been on the run, and raising funds for Legacy while

Squadron Leader Anthony Rengel receives handover from the 77th ANARE medical practitioner Dr Peter Rizzo near the RSV Nuyina and local Adelie penguins.

ADF People Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

The doctor is in the ice house

19/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 949 Views 0 Comments Antarctica, Mawson Station, Operation Southern Discovery, RSV Nuyina

Squadron Leader Anthony Rengel’s inspiration to spend a year in Antarctica came from a relative who worked at Mawson station

Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) host the 2025 DMFS welcome event in Adelaide. Story by Chelsey Ballard. Photo by Georgina Holmes.

ADF People

ADF settles into South Australian postings

18/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2450 Views 0 Comments Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS)

With the start of a new year comes a series of new postings for ADF personnel and their families. CAPTION: Defence

Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer for members of the TNI AL at a local mosque in Surabaya Indonesia during Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Challenges personnel face during Ramadan

18/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 225 Views 0 Comments Chaplains

For Muslims in Defence, Ramadan presents a set of unique challenges. CAPTION: Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa leads a prayer

Able Seaman Bharatkumar (Brett) Thumar, left, and Leading Seaman Chris Hughes reunite with Liz Cummings for the first time since providing first aid to her in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Story by Lieutenant Allan Bruty. Photo by Petty Officer James Whittle.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Sailors save the day with first aid

14/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 816 Views 0 Comments

A routine run for three sailors in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens turned into a real-life first aid exercise, after they

Australian Army officer Brigadier Damian Hill presents Lance Bombardier Joshua Burke with an engraved watch in recognition of the Mattner Award. Story by Major Tim Sydenham. Photo by Signals Aaron Thant.

ADF People Australian Army

Artillery award a nice surprise for gunner

11/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1589 Views 0 Comments NASAMS, Royal Australian Artillery

This year’s recipient of the Royal Australian Artillery’s Mattner Award had no idea he had been nominated. CAPTION: Australian Army officer

d guests attend the HMAS Perth I memorial foundation ceremony, commemorating the Battle of Saunda Strait, at Training Ship Perth in Fremantle, WA. Story by Petty Officer Keigan Gunther. Photos by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Perth I Memorial unveiled

07/03/202511/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1224 Views 0 Comments HMAS Perth, HMAS Perth I, WWII

The HMAS Perth I memorial was inaugurated in East Fremantle recently by the Governor of Western Australia Chris Dawson and

Air Force service medallions, from left, recognising 20, 10 and four years of service. Photos by Corporal Michael Rogers.

ADF People Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

New recognition for transitioning personnel

07/03/202516/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1879 Views 7 Comments

From March 1, all transitioning full-time ADF personnel will receive a testimonial to recognise their contribution before their final date

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band members at the Rats hall in Melbourne. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman.

ADF People History

Band gives a shout-out for new members

05/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 643 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Tattoo, WWII

The Rats of Tobruk memorial band has carried its music across the globe, from the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud on the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator course with his peers and mentors at HMAS Albatross, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

From Yam Island to the Middle East and beyond

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 702 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, HMAS Cairns, Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator (RIDC)

Leading Seaman Roneld Baragud remembers Navy crew visiting his island home when he was just a child. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Roneld

Personnel from Navy's Leadership Management Development Centre with NRL referees and staff at HMAS Penguin.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

NRL tackles leadership skills with Navy

04/03/202505/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 470 Views 0 Comments HMAS Penguin

Navy recently welcomed leadership teams, support staff and referees from the National Rugby League (NRL) elite officiating teams to undertake

Retired Australian Army combat assault dogs Aslan, left, and Manic, of the 2nd Commando Regiment, receive the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award at the Australian War Memorial. Story and photos by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF ADF People Veterans

Commando canines honoured for service

28/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1491 Views 0 Comments 2nd Commando Regiment, Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, aww, Dogs of Valour, Middle East Region, Military Working Dogs, Purple Popply Day, Service Dogs

A retired combat assault dog named Manic, who served with the 2nd Commando Regiment in Iraq, received a new award

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, speaks with guests at the Bombing of Darwin memorial unveiling at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.

ADF People Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF salutes sacrifice in WWII attack

28/02/202514/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 977 Views 0 Comments Bombing of Darwin, Chief of Air Force, No. 13 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, WWII

Two memorials honouring the sacrifice of aviators killed in a Japanese attack have been unveiled in Darwin. CAPTION: Chief of Air

Army soldier Sergeant Brent Power, a preventative medicine technician, remembers working on Operation Flood Assist at his home town of Casino, NSW, three years ago. Story and photo by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People Australian Army History

Remembering devastating floods, three years on

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 867 Views 0 Comments Operation Flood Assist 2022

In 2022, then-Corporal Brent Power saw his home town of Casino, NSW, transformed into a river of diesel, rotting animal

Karen Curtis and her grandchildren with the World War 2 service medals of her great uncle Sergeant William O’Shea at the Timaru War Memorial in New Zealand, after the medals were returned by Chaplain Haydn Lea. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF People History Lest We Forget

Medals land in safe hands

25/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 542 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, No. 25 Squadron, RNZAF, WWII

As New Zealander aviator Sergeant William O’Shea’s Wellington bomber barrelled through heavy flak over Germany, a cone of light tracked

← Previous