While Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is best known for bringing together air forces from around the world to train in complex, multinational air operations; one friendly competition in Australia’s Northern Territory swapped flight lines for baking pans.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) joined year five and six students (ages 10 to 12) at Alawa Primary School for a MasterChef-style brownie baking competition, strengthening relationships with the local community while demonstrating the teamwork that underpins the multinational exercise.
Representing the combined Defence Team were Flight Lieutenant Ashleigh Knowles (RAAF), Flight Lieutenant Craig Harnett (NZDF), Corporal Jack James (NZDF) and Captain Meagan Duncan (CAF) – none of whom are cooks by trade. Despite enthusiastic efforts in the kitchen, the multinational defence team finished fourth behind three talented student teams – a result that, by all accounts, “wasn’t even close.”
“I’ve been cooking in this kitchen for four years,” taunted one of the students. “And my mum’s a chef, so you don’t stand a chance!”
But the competition wasn’t about winning. Instead, it offered an opportunity for Defence personnel to engage with local students in a relaxed environment, showcasing the people behind the uniforms and the friendships that develop between partner nations during international exercises.
“This was a fantastic reminder that teamwork extends far beyond our operational roles,” said Sergeant Yannick Gagnon, a 14 Wing Greenwood-based cook who served as one of the competition’s judges.
“Multinational exercises are about bringing people together. Seeing different nations support the local school cooking program, while putting together such incredible dishes, made judging a real challenge. Only one point separated the first- and second-place teams.”
Community engagement activities such as this complement the exercise’s operational objectives by building positive relationships with the people of Australia’s Northern Territory, whose hospitality plays an important role in the success of Pitch Black.
