Featured Articles

From kidney failure to athletic victory. Former Squadron Leader and Air Traffic Controller Mark Oksanen’s Defence career spanned 28 years before he retired in 2023. Overcoming many health challenges and a kidney transplant, Mark has made the most of it, securing three gold medals and a record javelin throw at the World Transplant Games in 2023. Despite a healthy lifestyle, in 2021 he was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure due to Iga Nephropathy. Mark describes feeling ver

INTERVIEWED BY: Viv Kleemann & Hannah McFarlane Meet Charlotte Webb... DFA Advocate, Army veteran, single mother of three daughters and co-parenting with a serving member for the last three years, after ten years of being a defence spouse! Charlotte has experienced every aspect of the ADF lifestyle and wholeheartedly understands the unique challenges that impact various demographics within the Defence community. Being the National DFA Advocate for nearly 2 years has been Cha

Former Soldier Returns to Timor-Leste with Darwin Comedy Tour A recent comedy trip to Timor-Leste has combined humour, service history and community support, highlighting the enduring connections between the Northern Territory and its close neighbour. Australian comedian Jarryd Goundrey and Darwin comedian Briant Clark travelled to Dili earlier this year, joined by Monica Bugno. Clark and Bugno are co-owners of The Last Supper Darwin and Top Floor Comedy Darwin, where they ru

INTERVIEWED BY: VIV KLEEMANN Recently I was fortunate enough to catch up with local Veteran and photographer, Matt Campbell. We met on a dirt track not too far from Fogg Dam where he showed me a magical little-known place called Harrison Dam. Matt tells me that you’ll find a croc, evidence of water buffalo, Magpie Geese, Jabiru and many other birds and wildlife. Today we took particular notice of the Jabiru. As we wandered along the track and across the almost empty dam, he s

Vision is the most important component of riding a motorcycle. Learner motorcycle riders soon learn through licensing training that ‘vision’ for riding a motorcycle, is completely different to the ‘vision’ required when operating a car. Car drivers tend to look for spaces, then steer their vehicles into spaces with the comfort of knowing that their vehicle will provide them with traction, stability and all-round protection. Modern vehicle sensors are also designed to inform d

Why did I choose to volunteer? Before I enlisted in the Infantry in 2016, I was unsuccessful on my first attempt based on an apparent lack of “life experience” - I was18-years-old and fresh out of high school and, in hindsight, they weren’t wrong. When I got home, I was defeated and crushed by the news. Not long after, I was sitting at the Horsley Park pub, and I noticed a bunch of local boys in yellow uniforms, spinning yarns about how “rough” the upcoming fire season w

PLEASE BRIEFLY EXPLAIN YOUR MILITARY BACKGROUND: I joined the Air Force in March 2004 when I was18 years old. I initially joined as a Clerk Supplier with my first posting being to Newcastle NSW. After four years pf service, the Clerk Supply mustering ended, and I had a choice between Supply or Movements. I chose Movements and was posted to Townsville QLD as a Corporal. In my full-time career, I was deployed three times to the Middle East Area of Operations (two times as a Cle

Interviewed By: Viv Kleemann I recently sat down with veteran artist Robby McKenzie and his Life After Service exhibition at the Darwin Visual Arts (DVA) centre, which was an increble insight into his defence career and pathway into art. Please tell us about your defence career: I enlisted into the Air Force in 2001 with a career in communications and security, and served 8 years full time. I then transitioned to Reserves and worked in defence industry until the end of 2022

Australian Stand-Up Comedian, writer, host and army veteran Jarryd Goundrey reflects on military experiences and his latest tour.

AFL Tasmania is pleased to announce the next new inductee to the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, undoubtedly one of Tasmania’s greatest rovers, Hector Brooks.

My name is Steve Martin, and I am here to pay tribute to a man who made today possible, Frank Oakley Simmons.

Codey Anderson is a veteran artist who began his career working in the animation industry. Keen for a challenge, Codey joined the Australian