News – Page 17 – CONTACT magazine

UAS footage of RNZN divers surveying the area around HMNZS Manawanui as part of Op Resolution. New Zealand Defence Force Photo.

New Zealand News

Court martial for 3 over loss of HMNZS Manawanui

07/03/202607/03/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2208 Views 0 Comments

Charges have been laid in the Court Martial of New Zealand in relation to the loss of Royal New Zealand

Commanding Officer 723 Squadron Commander Joel Cooper and Andy Perry with the Silver Star project painting of Mr Perry. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Dishant Shah. Photos by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Honouring service past and present

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 615 Views 0 Comments HMAS Albatross, No. 723 Squadron

Personnel from 723 Squadron welcomed Silver Star recipient and former squadron member, Andy Perry, for a ceremonial visit focused on

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart awards recipient Corporal Sarah Vella the Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award during Army's 125th birthday event at Russell Offices, Canberra. Story and photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People Australian Army History

Soldier awarded for her life-saving action

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 861 Views 0 Comments 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment, Army Reserve, Chief of Army, Jonathan Church Good Soldiering Award

When a young recruit’s psychosocial injury escalated into a life-threatening crisis, Corporal Sarah Vella became the steady, decisive presence he

HMAS Warramunga ships company during the International Fleet Review City Parade at Ramakrishna Beach, Vishakhapatnam, India. Story by Sub Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photos by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

India News Royal Australian Navy

Aussies step out in India

05/03/202607/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 728 Views 0 Comments HMAS Warramunga, Indian Navy, International Fleet Review (IFR)

HMAS Warramunga joined hundreds of thousands of spectators and military personnel lining the streets for one of India’s largest public maritime celebrations.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart awards the Chief of Army Instructor of the Year to Sergeant Matthew Booth at Russell Offices, Canberra. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

ADF People Australian Army

Dedication to service recognised

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1526 Views 1 Comment ADF School of Special Operations (ADFSSO), Army School of Transport (AST), Chief of Army

Two soldiers have earned the Chief of Army Instructor of the Year award – one for advancing Special Forces medical

Able Seaman Jaxsen Shinners performs a dead lift during the Fit Games hosted by HMAS Canberra off the coast of Queensland as the ship prepares for Exercise Sea Wader. Story by Able Seaman Jaxsen Shinners. Photos by Seaman Genae Kelly.

Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

Fit to wade in and reset

05/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 567 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra

Soldiers and sailors competed in HMAS Canberra’s Fit Games during a recent transit off the east coast of Queensland. CAPTION: Able Seaman

From left, Able Seaman Adam Brazier, Leading Seaman Sam Lomax and Seaman Patrick Ward hold Australian-made seawater strainers. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly.

ADF People AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

British nuclear sub tagged by Aussie techs

04/03/202607/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 639 Views 0 Comments AUKUS, Fleet Support Unit – West (FSU-W)

Australian naval technicians have manufactured and installed critical components for the United Kingdom’s HMS Anson during the submarine’s maintenance period at HMAS Stirling,

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker and her father, Musician Bill Barker, prepare with the combined military bands of the ADF for their performance with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane. Story by Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF People Australian Army

Father and daughter in tune at Tattoo

04/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 573 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve, Australian Army Band, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker’s family had booked tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Brisbane show before discovering she would

An EC-135 taxis on the flight line at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales. Story by Sub Lieutenant Dishant Shah. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Cameron Martin.

News Royal Australian Navy

723 Squadron celebrates flying milestone

04/03/202604/03/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 660 Views 0 Comments EC-135, HMAS Albatross, No. 723 Squadron

At HMAS Albatross in Nowra, 723 Squadron has soared past a remarkable aviation milestone, recording an impressive 50,000 flying hours on the

Army physical training instructors showcase new uniforms for warm-weather climates. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Army PTIs drop the red daks

27/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1149 Views 0 Comments PTIs

The familiar scene of a red and white tracksuit-clad figure running the boots off a platoon of soldiers has changed

Army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Pipes and Drums gather with Korean War veterans Barrie Divine, centre left, and Robert Hay, centre, during a community activity supporting Exercise Itchy Fingers. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Private Lachlan Craig.

Australian Army History News

Turning it up to 11 for our veterans

27/02/202627/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 554 Views 0 Comments 3rd Battalion RAR, 8th/9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Gallipoli Barracks

Sitting in Lang Park, watching the cream of the pipe and drums crop skirl their way around the grounds, Private

Sapper Ian Moss and former explosive detection dog Florence 'Flo Joe'. Story by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.

Australian Army Lest We Forget News

Dog awarded for military service in Afghanistan

26/02/202626/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 906 Views 0 Comments Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award, Explosive Detection Dogs

Explosive detection dog Florence, or ‘Flo Joe’ as she was affectionately known, was honoured at the Australian War Memorial on

Delegates from the Initial Flight Training Course 4 at RAAF Base Point Cook. Story and photo by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Auciello.

Australian Army History News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

New pilot-training pilot program

26/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 957 Views 0 Comments nitial Flying Training (IFT), RAAF Point Cook

Air Force Training Group has launched an innovative pilot training trial at RAAF Base Point Cook, partnering with RMIT University

From left, Royal Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Fred Hunter, Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Officer Ed and United States Air Force pilot Captain Brendan Crouse with a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Nell Bradbury.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Sharpening aviator skills in US desert

26/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 787 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bamboo Eagle, Exercise Red Flag, No. 75 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) aviators recently sharpened their air combat skills at two premier air training exercises out of

ADF News Veterans

New fight over medicinal cannabis

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2553 Views 2 Comments

This week, CONTACT received a well-worded and seemingly legitimate plea for action in defiance of a new DVA ruling on

Members of Australia's Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare to fly into Oruzgan's Baluchi Valley and Chora regions in support of an MTF1 mission, in 2010. Photo by Lieutenant Aaron Oldaker.

Australian Army News

RSL unhappy with ‘war crimes’ injustice

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 992 Views 2 Comments

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the delay in resolving findings of unlawful killings by Australian Special

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart at Henderson shipyard, Western Australia, after the contract signing ceremony for the eight landing craft heavy vessels. Story by Major Peter Nugent. Photos by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

New landing craft heavy for Army

25/02/202628/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1482 Views 3 Comments Chief of Army, Henderson WA, Landing Craft Heavy, National Defence Strategy (NDS)

Army’s ability to fight and win in the littoral is one step closer with the signing of a $4 billion agreement

The Astute-class submarine HMS Anson arrives at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for a scheduled submarine maintenance period. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Thomas Clarke-Kelly.

AUKUS News Royal Australian Navy

First UK nuclear submarine maintenance in Australia

25/02/202625/02/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1063 Views 0 Comments ASC, AUKUS, HMAS Stirling, Royal Navy

Australia reached another milestone towards operating its own conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines, with the arrival of HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia