News – Page 15 – CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Navy Recruit Abby Watts on board HMAS Choules off the coast of New South Wales during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photo by Seaman Genae Kelly.

New recruits test sea legs

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 726 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Cerberus, HMAS Choules

Testing their sea legs for the first time, 45 Navy recruits from HMAS Cerberus embarked on HMAS Choules for a sea ride they will

Leading Seaman Amy Matthews takes observations of her casualty during a damage-control exercise on board HMAS Toowoomba. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Survival training gives sailors an edge

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 521 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

At sea, damage-control teams train daily to combat fires, floods, medical emergencies or toxic hazards. CAPTION: Leading Seaman Amy Matthews

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules departs RAAF Base Richmond, NSW, as part of Exercise Trojan Compass. Story by Flight Lieutenant Chloe Megson. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Training as one team

27/03/202627/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 715 Views 0 Comments Exercise Trojan Compass, RAAF Richmond, RNZAF

Exercise Trojan Compass brought the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) together at RAAF

International space chiefs, representatives and senior enlisted officers attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Story by Samantha Cooper. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

Cyber News Space Division

Global space chiefs unite in Canberra

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 598 Views 0 Comments AWM, Space and Cyber

The inaugural Space Chief’s Conclave brought together international space leaders for an inspiring day of connection, collaboration and forward‑looking discussion.

HMAS Ballarat’s ship’s company exercises its freedom of entry into the City of Ballarat. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photos by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat marches through namesake city

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 518 Views 0 Comments Freedom of Entry, HMAS Ballarat, Navy Band

Officers and sailors from HMAS Ballarat exercised their freedom of entry through the streets of Ballarat on March 15, marching before large

Lieutenant Amie Harris takes the range from a pelorus on the bridge of HMAS Toowoomba. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

Staying cool under pressure

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 543 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

Commuting in through five-metre swells, 40-knot Arctic blasts and near-zero visibility fog might cause some concern for those on their

HMAS Adelaide sails into a rain cloud during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022. Story by Corporal Luke Bellman. Photo by Leading Seaman Sittichai Sakonpoonpol.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Turning ocean data into decision superiority*

25/03/202628/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 991 Views 1 Comment Bluelink, DSTG

For more than two decades, a quiet but powerful platform has been working behind the scenes to support Navy missions

Lieutenant Clinton Shiell in his full-time role as a pilot of Qantas A380 aircraft. Photos by Major Jesse Robilliard.

ADF People Australian Army

Army career veered off on a different flight path

25/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 521 Views 0 Comments 11th Engineer Regiment, Army Reserve, WWI, WWII

When Lieutenant Colonel Clinton Shiell joined the Royal Australian Artillery, flying a Qantas A380 wasn’t on his radar. CAPTION: Lieutenant

From left, Director General Garrison Health and Director General Navy Health Commodore Kate Tindall and Surgeon General of the ADF Rear Admiral Sonya Bennett at the opening of the HMAS Creswell Clinic. Story by Michelle Hoare. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

World-class clinics enhance ADF care

25/03/202625/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 505 Views 0 Comments HMAS Creswell

The health and wellbeing of ADF personnel has received a significant boost with the completion of a new medical clinic

Troops cut a simulated nerve agent casualty out of her contaminated clothing as she passes through the personnel decontamination station. Story and photo by Captain Chris Wade.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Training to survive a chemical weapon attack

20/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 603 Views 0 Comments CBRN, Gallipoli Barracks

It’s a situation no soldier ever wants to find themselves in – having to deliver urgent, lifesaving care to seriously

From left, Wing Commander Peter Croce, Anne Burton and Margaret Hilton with the medals awarded to the late Warrant Officer William Kinloch. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

ADF People History Lest We Forget Royal Australian Air Force

Routine search solves 81-year family mystery

20/03/202620/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 592 Views 0 Comments Air Force History and Heritage, Aussie Hero Quilts, Commendation for Gallantry, No. 464 Squadron, WWII

An 81-year mystery has been solved and a family united with an Air Force war hero’s medals thanks to a

Guardian-class patrol boats from Pacific nations sail in company during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Michael Edwards. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Jon White.

News Royal Australian Navy

Leeuwin leads task unit to Jervis Bay

20/03/202621/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 616 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Leewin

HMAS Leeuwin is taking on a new role, leading six Pacific nations’ Guardian-class patrol boats as a task unit while they transit

RAAF pilot Squadron Leader Anthony on the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base, United States, during Exercise Red Flag 26-1. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Nell Bradbury.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Gold Coast Top Guns impress under pressure

20/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 653 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, No. 75 Squadron

From Australia’s iconic beach to the unforgiving skies of the Nevada desert in the United States, three aviators from the

Lieutenant Commander Darcy Cook sits in the wardroom with patches gifted by preschoolers at Goodstart Child Care Centre Mangerton. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photos by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

ADF People Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Small gifts bring big cheer

19/03/202619/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 600 Views 0 Comments

Since Australians stormed the shores of Gallipoli, small care packages sent from home to Australian Defence Force personnel have been

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II during a flying display over Lake Burley Griffin for Canberra's Skyfire 2026. Story by Flying Officer Alexandra DeValentin. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Stewart Gould.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Defence brings airpower to Skyfire

19/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 500 Views 0 Comments Australia’s Federation Guard, Band of the Royal Military College, Canberra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) brought skills, precision and entertainment to the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in support of

Visiting Fellow from Griffith Asia Institute, Dr Peter Layton, presents Heterogenous Air Power at War during the Air and Space Power Conference 2026, Canberra. Story by Ms Emma Taylor.

ADF Australian Army Cyber News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Space Division

Sweden’s whole of society approach to defence

19/03/202619/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 593 Views 0 Comments Air and Space Power Conference, Chief of Air Force

Contemporary lessons and insights were at the forefront of this year’s Air and Space Power Conference 2026. CAPTION: Visiting Fellow

Hindu Priestess and Navy's first full-time Hindu Chaplain Kamala Sharma-Wing at HMAS Harman in the lead-up to Harmony Week. Story by Simon Paton. Photo by Kris Kerehona.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Royal Australian Navy

Making more than history

19/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 441 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, HMAS Harman

Chaplain Kamala Sharma-Wing made history in early 2025 when she became the ADF’s first SERCAT-7 (Service Category 7) Hindu Chaplain.

Members of 4 Squadron board a C-130J Hercules for a night time mission during Exercise Diamond Seas. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jody Blakeley. Photos by Sergeant Melina Young.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Developing excellence across warfighting domains

19/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 571 Views 0 Comments Exercise Diamond Seas, No. 4 Squadron, No. 88 Squadron

Through the seamless integration of advanced capabilities and joint military assets, Exercise Diamond Seas 26 strengthens Australia’s ability to train,

Ships from Australia and regional partners transit through the Prince of Wales Channel, off the coast of north Queensland, during Exercise Kakadu. Photos by Seaman Genae Kelly.

News Royal Australian Navy

Kakadu exercises Pacific neighbours

18/03/202621/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 547 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Choules

The Royal Australian Navy continues to strengthen maritime readiness through officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres with regional partner nations in waters off Australia’s

Commanding General of America’s First Corps Lieutenant General Matthew McFarlane speaks in Thailand during the multinational Exercise, Cobra Gold. Story and photo by Captain Charles Miranda,

Australian Army Cyber News Space Division

Australia lauded for setting example

18/03/202618/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 595 Views 0 Comments 10th Brigade, 1st (Australian) Division, Exercise Cobra Gold

Military forces in the Pacific region were looking to nations such as Australia as a model to organise, train and