Photo Exhibition Honouring Afghanistan Veterans Opens at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial

A photographic exhibition documenting the service and experiences of Australian veterans in Afghanistan opened at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park. Titled Point & Shoot 2026; Australian Veteran Photography Exhibition, the display features photographs taken by veterans during their deployments, paired with personal stories detailing their military service.

The exhibition is part of the NSW Government's activities acknowledging the 25th anniversary of Australian military service in Afghanistan and the wider Middle East Area of Operations. In addition to the exhibition, a Star Ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in the Anzac Memorial's Hall of Memory.

The initiative was developed by Mark Direen, founder of Point Assist and a former Infantry and Special Forces soldier with more than 25 years of military service across six overseas deployments. Direen stated that taking photographs while operating in remote, high-threat environments provided stillness and meaning, which later prompted him to gather images and stories from other service members to help the broader community understand the realities of combat.

NSW Minister for Veterans David Harris noted that the exhibition aims to provide insight into service, sacrifice, and camaraderie, helping preserve these experiences for future generations.

Alongside the exhibition, veterans residing in New South Wales who served from 1990 to the present day are being invited to contribute their stories to help preserve the history of contemporary Australian service personnel.

Source