Letters to the Editor Archives

A newly acquired M1A2 Abrams main battle tank arrives at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. Photos by Corporal Guy Sadler.

Many problems hindering 3 Brigade’s new roles

11/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 453 Views 0 Comments 1 Armd Regt

Defence Press Release, 28 September 2023… “The 3rd Brigade, based in Townsville, will be an armoured combat brigade.” The Defence

Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank in Puslatpur, Indonesia during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor News

Army Cut Back – Why?

05/04/202505/04/2025 Bruce Cameron 1734 Views 3 Comments

Army has recently removed a squadron of tanks from its order of battle; no reason has been offered. FILE PHOTO

An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the Cultana Training Area, SA during Exercise Rhino Run 24. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.

Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Unjust Treatment of 1st Armoured Regiment: Who Should Apologise?

30/03/202530/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 826 Views 0 Comments

FILE PHOTO (May 2024): An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 1st Armoured Regiment, drives through the

1st Armoured Regiment conduct manoeuvre training on an M1A1 Abrams tanks in Puslatpur, Indonesia, during Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2023. Photo by Sergeant Jarrod McAneney.

Australian Army Letters to the Editor Veterans

The Bond Formed by Tank Crews

16/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1563 Views 3 Comments 1st Armoured Regiment

Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), graduated as a naval officer in 1982. His career has involved

Letters to the Editor Veterans

Can the CDF or a Service Chief Do Anything He or She Wishes?

17/02/202528/03/2025 Bruce Cameron 1997 Views 6 Comments

There have been no female Chiefs as yet, but according to all accounts, the first is not far off. Do

An American plane sprays chemicals near unit lines of 1st Armoured Squadron Workshop RAEME, at Nui Dat, Vietnam 1968. Photo by Des Kearton.

Letters to the Editor

RAEME units sprayed sprayed with chemicals, Vietnam 1968 – RANCH HAND defoliant flights

03/11/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 935 Views 0 Comments

Operation Ranch Hand was a name given by the USA to the tactical project for aerial spraying of herbicides in

The memorial wall listing the crew of HMAS Sydney II at Mount Scott Geraldton. The interior concave side of the Wall of Remembrance, situated at the front of memorial, details the names of all 645 men who lost their lives. The centre piece is a dome mounted by seven pillars. Representing the seven states and territories of Australia. The dome is constructed by a canopy of silver gulls. A Stele is made of Stainless Stell and represents the bow of the HMAS Sydney II. A bronze sculpture of a a woman closest to the ocean. She wears an anchor necklace and holds hat against the breeze from the sea. Her anxious expression and her fixed gaze to the horizon. She represents a waiting woman grieven for her lost love one.

Lest We Forget Letters to the Editor

Is the HMAS Sydney II crew MIA or KIA?

31/10/202431/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 519 Views 0 Comments HMAS Sydney II

A recent Letter to the Editor here at CONTACT piqued my interest – are the members of the crew of

USS Fort McHenry at Naval Station Mayport. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson.

Letters to the Editor

Is USS Fort McHenry in Cairns?

23/04/2024 John Levitz 1707 Views 0 Comments USS Fort McHenry

Just a question, Why has the US vessel, Fort McHenry LCU 2020 not left Cairns Naval Base since the end

Letters to the Editor

ABC doesn’t appeal Heston Russell defamation – and doesn’t apologise

27/11/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6072 Views 5 Comments

On Wednesday last week, the appeals process for my judgement against the ABC closed. With this, the ABC has, by

Health and Wellbeing Letters to the Editor

Brothers and Books – 5 in 50 challenge

31/07/2023 Dylan Conway 1716 Views 0 Comments

Australia’s favourite veteran read-a-thon is on again! After raising over $140,000 for veterans and their families last year, Brothers and

Lieutenant (ret'd) Les Gade, aged 94, a member of the Parramatta subbranch and formally of the Polish Army has recently been made a Commander of the Order of Merit by the Republic of Poland for his service during WWII.

Letters to the Editor Personal stories

Parramatta RSL member receives Polish award

30/07/202330/07/2023 Parramatta Sub Branch RSL 2256 Views 0 Comments

Dear Editor, Please be advised that Lieutenant (ret’d) Les Gade, aged 94, a member of the Parramatta subbranch and formally

Health and Wellbeing Letters to the Editor

Guitars bringing peace

09/07/202309/07/2023 Dave Cox 1940 Views 0 Comments G4VA, Guitars For Veterans Australia

Music therapy, healing veterans “Where words fail, music speaks” is the famous quote by Hans Christian Anderson who recognised that

Sergeant Nathan Lissing watches a South Sydney Rabbitohs match while deployed with the MFO in Sinai, Egypt. Photo supplied.

Letters to the Editor

Good luck – no, no, good luck to you…

23/09/202223/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1690 Views 0 Comments

Sergeant Nathan Lissing, deployed on Operation Mazurka – the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO)

22 Squadron from 13 Engineer Regiment has been created as a science, technology, engineering and maths incubator. Story by Captain Sandra Seman-Bourke. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Letters to the Editor

Australian Army’s massive reorg was actually announced

20/09/202220/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6221 Views 0 Comments 2020 Force Structure Plan

Dear Editor, Your recent article titled “Big [unannounced] changes for brigades, regiments and battalions in NT and SA” seems to

Australian National Flag. Courtesy PM&C.

Letters to the Editor Poets Corner

Get Rid of the Fool in Green

03/07/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1630 Views 0 Comments By George Mansford

I know this scribble is a touch repetitive but it’s very difficult to ignore such a slur directed at our

Australian soldiers march with packs at the Royal Australian School of Infantry in Singleton. Photo by Sergeant Janine Fabre.

Letters to the Editor

Advice for a sleep walker

19/04/2022 Ben King 2066 Views 0 Comments sleep walking

I’m looking for some advice more than anything and not sure who to reach out to… I enlisted in the

A community meeting to plan flood-relief efforts at the Rotorwings Hanger, Lismore Airport. Photo by Leila Joy.

Letters to the Editor

Statement about NSW floods from Community-led Flood Crisis Operations

11/03/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1614 Views 0 Comments

We are residents of the Northern Rivers area speaking on behalf of some of our brave and determined community leaders

Force Protection Element 14 in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Operation Highroad. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.

Letters to the Editor

Afghanistan vets denied ICB/ACB

07/02/202207/02/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7889 Views 11 Comments

Good afternoon CONTACT team, Just a quick question hopefully leading to a discussion about the Infantry Combat Badge/Army Combat Badge

Letters to the Editor Personal stories

Peas, Beans and Bullets

19/12/202119/12/2021 Russ Morison 2323 Views 0 Comments

HI Everyone, by way of introduction, I spent 40 years in Defence, 27 of them in a baggy green suit,

My new Veteran's Lapel Pin, box-mounted in the shirt pocket. Photo by self.

Letters to the Editor

Over 65s who’d like to work without being penalised

17/12/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1628 Views 0 Comments By Peter Billington

Dear Brian, Currently Australia has a shortage of workers that have historically been filled by people from overseas. Australia has

← Previous