2021 Gallery
The 2021 Point & Shoot exhibition travelled across Burnie, Launceston and Hobart with images from the Vietnam era through to Iraq & Afghanistan.
Point and Shoot brings a voice to the unique stories of all serving personnel, honouring their collective service and promoting an appreciation and understanding of the experiences of the roles that those who served have played in shaping the nation.
Soldiers from the Afghan National Army fire a D-30 122mm howitzer gun at the heavy weapons range, Tarin Kot.
Jo Lovell – Uruzgan, Afghanistan, 2011
Soldiers from Mentoring Task Force moving away from the Helicopter Landing Zone after loading three Australian casualties following an Improvised Explosive Device attack in the Karmisan Valley.
Jo Lovell – Uruzgan, Afghanistan, 2011
Escorting a casualty to a US Aero Medical Evacuation helicopter for transportation back to Tarin Kot medical facility following an Improvised Explosive Device in the Karmisan Valley.
Jo Lovell – Uruzgan, Afghanistan, 2011
As the sun sets over the Charmestan Valley, Australian soldiers from Mentoring Task Force 3 receive their orders for an Afghan National Army security operation to disrupt insurgent operations in the Charmestan region.
Post operation, a permanent Afghan National Security Force presence was established to attract teachers, doctors and engineers to the area, bringing better governance, development and enhanced quality of life for the community.
Jo Lovell – Uruzgan Afghanistan, 2011
Members of the Marine Rotational Force loading onto a RAAF Globe Master C-17 at RAAF Darwin, on route to Exercise Talisman Sabre, a Australia-US bilateral military training activity focused on mid-intensity, high-end warfighting to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces.
Jo Lovell – RAAF Base Darwin
The last patrol of the M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier. One of the M113A1 captured in this image had served 45 years in the Australian Army, including service in Vietnam.
Jo Lovell – Dili, East Timor, 2009
We were heading to our extraction point when we came across these underground caves. Luckily, there were a couple of points along the way where the ground above opened and the light shone through, allowing me to capture a small handful of images in this remarkable location.
Chris Dickson – Kajaki, Afghanistan, 2010
2021 Highly Commended
Searching for narcotics and weapons caches with Special Operations Task Group.
I captured this image during our extraction using the camera to shield my face from the flying debris before the dust engulfed me completely.
Chris Dickson
(@dicko_on.assignment)
Chris Dickson – Kajaki, Afghanistan. 2010
I captured this image to show people back home life at a patrol base. Still in the very early stages of building, the base up the valley from our main base in Tarin Kotdid not yet sleeping quarters. This simple shot tells the story of a group of incredible soldiers who worked so hard that they could sleep absolutely anywhere.
Chris Dickson – Mirabad Valley, Afghanistan, 2011
When I first became an Air Force photographer, it never entered my mind that I would one day be out patrolling Afghanistan with the Army. I went along on every patrol I could, patrolling at all times of the day and night by foot and by vehicle. Some patrols only lasted an hour or two, while others were all day. I captured this image on one of our patrols as everything was just rock on rock with the sun beginning to set behind the mountains as we made our way home.
Chris Dickson – Afghanistan, 2011
Kids posing for a photo in front of an Armoured Personnel Carrier M113.
The local kids were smart, always happy to get photos taken but only for money, food or cigarettes.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
2021 People’s Choice Award
Having a smoke with the locals.
The local kids were smart, always happy to get photos taken but only for money, food or cigarettes
Rex Targett – Vietnam. 1969.
Fellow Engineer and Tasmanian, Bobby Laird who worked together with Rex sitting on an Armoured Personnel Carrier with M16 in hand.
This photo is taken on a main supply route. The rubber plantation trees in the background had previously come to the road but needed to be cleared back due to the enemy using them as concealment to ambush the Australians on the road.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
A pic of the dismounted infantry on patrol snapped from a passing Armoured Personnel Carrier.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
Clearing for mines on the road. On this occasion our Armoured Personnel Carrier was also full of infantry soldiers so the tank crew lead the way for us, the theory being they were bigger and tougher and more likely to survive if they hit a mine.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
Operations in South Vietnam proved hazardous, with aircrews regularly exposed to ground fire, poor flying conditions, night-time medivacs and dangerously small jungle landing zones that were sometimes booby trapped with land mines. The unit lost seven Iroquois and two crewmen in action during its deployment.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
Two Tasmanian soldiers from 4RAR catching up on local Tasmanian news with ‘The Examiner’ in their fighting pit in Vietnam.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
Three Tassie mates having a beer. Bobby Laird on the left, Manfred Wombald centre and Rex Targett on the right.
Rex Targett – Vietnam 1969
A group of Tasmanian soldiers from 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC Battalion) having an end of tour beer. Rex recalls that when a beer was on hand the Tasmanians would often seek each other out to share a toast.
4 RAR was replaced by 6RAR on 1 May 1969. Total casualties during their deployment included 15 Australians killed and 97 wounded and 5 New Zealanders killed and 37 wounded.
Rex Targett – Vietnam, 1969
Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG (second from right) with members of his Commando team.
c/- Cam’s Cause
Cam Baird – Afghanistan, 2011
Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG.
c/- Cam’s Cause
Cam Baird – Afghanistan, 2013
Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG.
c/- Cam’s Cause
Cam Baird – Afghanistan, 2013
The casket of Corporal Cameron Baird, killed in action on June 22 2013 is escorted by his mates from the Special Operations Task Group. Australians, Americans, Slovakians, Afghan Partner Units and Defence Civilian colleagues formed an honour guard to pay final tribute to Corporal Baird as he was led to a waiting Air Force C-130 Hercules to begin his journey home.
Dept of Defence – Afghanistan, 2013
Members of the Special Operations Task Group farewell Corporal Cameron Baird of the 2nd Commando Regiment as he is flown from Multi National Base, Tarin Kot by a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules.
Dept of Defence – Afghanistan, 2013
Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Sheean, named after Tasmania Victoria Cross recipient Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean, visited Beauty Point, Tasmania, as part of her first deployment of 2021.
This pic captures three Tasmanian locals on board during this visit; Able Seaman Marine Technician Submariner Michael Youd, Lieutenant Commander Brendan Pearce and Petty Officer Electronic Warfare Submariner Dane Sharp.
Dept of Defence – Tasmania, 2021
This photo was taken by Matthew while on deployment to Iraq from his Light Armoured Vehicle.
Matthew Millhouse
(c/- Terese Millhouse) – Iraq, 2004
This photo was taken by Matthew while on deployment to Iraq from his Light Armoured Vehicle.
Matthew Millhouse
(c/- Terese Millhouse) – Iraq, 2004
A signalman’s lamp on the bridge wing of HMAS Melbourne reflects the Al Basrah Oil Terminal in the Persian Gulf as the sun sets.
Gregg served in the operations room of HMAS Melbourne and recalls it was great to feel the contrasting heat and light from the upper decks before entering the cold, dark gizmo littered operations room as we watched these terminals as blips on radar screens throughout the day and night.
Gregg Scott – Iraq, 2004
Afghan National Army trainees at the first UN and internationally accredited demining school, teaching humanitarian and area demining skills.
Bagram Airfield is an Afghan military base, and formerly the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan located next to the ancient city of Bagram.
Alex Thomson – Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, 2007
Perimeter Views from the eastern side of Bagram Airfield to the mountains of the Hindu Kush. This large area was riddled with mines to be cleared. The ground was seen with acres and acres of broken glass when the mines were laid which made for a beautiful shimmering, “seaside” effect at sunset.
Alex Thomson – Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, 2007
The Afghan National Army guard tower at the perimeter at Jalalabad Airfield. I was there to recon the adjacent orchard fields which were mined. Security was very lax so not surprised when a few weeks later they were hit with suicide vehicle bomb (SVBIED) at the gate.
Alex Thomson – Jalalabad Airfield Tower, Afghanistan, 2006
Landing at Sharana Airfield and seeing the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) security patrolling from the plane window.
Alex Thomson – Sharana, Afghanistan, 2007
Warrant Officer Class Two Kris Amiet was deployed as a senior mentor with the 205th Coalition Advisory Team in Kandahar Provence, Afghanistan from Nov 2012 – Sept 2013. Kris recalls ‘these discarded relics of the Russian war reminded me of sentinels forever warning us of the dangers and sacrifice of war.’
Kris Amiet – Afghanistan, 2012
Warrant Officer Class Two Kris Amiet was deployed as a senior mentor with the 205th Coalition Advisory Team in Kandahar Provence, Afghanistan from Nov 2012 – Sept 2013. Kris recalls “these discarded relics of the Russian war reminded me of sentinels forever warning us of the dangers and sacrifice of war.”
Kris Amiet – Afghanistan, 2012
Found these guys in their predicament about 20kms outside of Fujairah on our way to collect aircraft maintenance equipment. We didn’t stop to render any assistance as they looked like they had it all under control?….
No that’s a lie, we did a brief roll by, smile, wave and water drop out the window for morale and human relations.
Nate F – Fujairah, UAE, 2005
Early basic training in the tent city we lived in for 2 weeks.
Jamie passed away suddenly in 2011 with a ruptured aorta heart aneurysm. His twin brother Andrew, who also spent a large part of his career with his brother in the military now works in the Tasmanian veteran space at Point Assist and RSL Tasmania.
Jamie Willcox
(c/- Andrew Willcox)
– LWC Canungra, 1986
Operation Bush Fire Assist
Fires were brought under control on day 2 and 3. ‘With ankle deep ash and melted signs, it was a devastating sight’ Ash recalls.
Ash Werner – Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island, 2020
While deployed to the Solomon Islands with Tasmanian 12/40 RTR Ash worked with the Federal Police providing security and driving support.
Ash Werner – Operation Anode – Solomon Islands, 2011
Bolt the Explosive Detection Dog on operation. After a long career Bolt retired with one of his former handlers and died a few years after from snakebite.
Bolt was a similar era to the infamous Sarbi, the explosive detection dog who was lost and found in Afghanistan 13 months later.
Benton Andrews – Afghanistan, 2007
A capture of the beauty and contrast of the Afghan countryside on operations with Reconstruction Task Force 3.
Benton Andrews – Afghanistan, 2008
Deployment with Overwatch Battle Group West 4.
Urban Training with the Australian Army Training Team Iraq.
Brendan Allen – Iraq, 2008
ANZAC Battle Group. Patrolling the outskirts of Dili with the new East Timorese Army.
Brendan Allen – East Timor, 2006
These two Iraqi Army tanks were destroyed by US forces while attempting to defend the outskirts of Baghdad in 2003. In hindsight, myself and my colleagues who inspected these knocked out tanks in 2007 probably should have kept our distance as they were likely destroyed by Depleted Uranium rounds that leave a dangerous radioactive residue.
Ged Lagerewskij – Iraq, 2007
When Baghdad fell to US forces in 2003 they discovered an underground garage housing a collection of luxury cars that belonged to President Saddam Hussein’s sons. Over time this rare and valuable collection was stolen, vandalised or destroyed. The limousine I’m leaning against here in 2007 was one of the few vehicles remaining from this collection.
Ged Lagerewskij – Iraq, 2007
Bathing the unofficial mascot of B Company, 5/7 RAR, the stray dog that hung around the front gate of Camp Smitty.
As a Squadron Medic when not on patrol or Quick Reaction Force, we worked in the British hospital, pictured behind me.
Josh Weir – Operation Catalyst – Iraq 2005
Ricky served the Army Reserves from 1988 until 1998 as a driver. “There is nothing better than operating someone else’s two door Mercedes Benz in the middle of Australia” he recalls with a laugh.
This image was taken while on exercise in Tasmania as we were setting up our defensive position.
Ricky Pfeiffer – Tasmania, 1989
This trip involved a lot of operations on the border. I recall one night we were in a covert operation and were engaged from two sites by the Indonesian Military. After the initial shock we returned fire which probably didn’t last very long, maybe 6-7 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime.
I used to like helping the locals with food and medical where we could, especially the kids.
Jason Stagg – East Timor, 1999-2000
Infantry soldiers from the Force Protection Element and Quick Reaction Force of Task Group Taji.
Taken in the final days of the deployment atop a building overlooking the airfield at Camp Taji where the group had spent much of their time. The backdrop of the spectacular red sunset was a staple of the desert region. The reflection was the result of a recent burst of heavy rain; weather unheard of in the hot dry climate experienced for most of the deployment.
Anonymous – Operation Okra – Iraq, 2019
After clearing a village pre-dawn and engaging some insurgents in the early morning it had been quiet all day as we waited for nightfall to depart. Given the calm, I took the risk of removing my helmet during picquet. Less than a minute later a number of rounds came in barely missing my head, one so close it felt like a slap in the face. I took cover and returned fire. This was me about 5 minutes later, unimpressed. Naturally my mates got a good laugh out of it though.
Clancy Roberts – Afghanistan, 2012
A moment of downtime playing soccer with the local kids while waiting for a helicopter to transport me to a remote forward operating base.
Clancy Roberts – East Timor
Patrolling the border in the crew commander’s cupola of a mortar track.
This photo was taken by one of my mates during a convoy move to the border post, a time of high tension in the weeks leading up to the transition from INTERFET to the UN.
I had no idea I was about to be photographed. To me this image represents the reality of a patrol on operations; always have a game face, always be on the lookout, always stay focused.
Paul Bennett – East Timor, 2000
Australia’s first Special Forces deployment to Afghanistan in 2001/2002.
Image is the destruction of 8 tonnes of mixed explosives and ammunition, 2 tanks and a fleet of armoured cars.
Tim S – Afghanistan, 2002
My interpreter took this photo on a joint US Marine and Afghan Army patrol when he should have been doing other things. Typical.. love that guy! Happy to say he has been safely living in Florida with his family since 2014.
Michael Vasquez – Marjah Helmand, Afghanistan, 2010
Mark and fellow SAS colleague Dave O’Neill in the opium poppy fields.
In 2002 these fields were considered unimportant while teams still searched for the last remnants of Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan. By 2010, the Special Operations Task Group with the US were actively trying to destroy heroin production to remove enemy funding.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2002
This photo of my teammate Dave O’Neill on watch taken at a destroyed Al-Qaeda base.
You will often hear veterans say the thing they miss most from their time in the military is being with their mates. Dave completed two tours of duty in East Timor, two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq before being killed in a car crash in 2007. Even with his time cut short, Dave achieved more than many achieve in a long life.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2002
Vehicle Patrol Resupply. In 2002 SASR patrols were tasked with long range reconnaissance both to understand the Afghan people in remote locations and search for the remnants of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
These long patrols in remote areas, some over two months in duration, would not have been possible without resupply every few weeks bringing anything from food, water and fuel to vehicle parts and ammunition.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2002
Located on the eastern Afghan border with Pakistan, this Al-Qaeda cave was positioned so that doctors from Pakistan could visit to treat Al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan. I was told that Osama bin Laden visited the base regularly before fleeing to Pakistan to hide.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2002
Al-Qaeda caves used as a base through the 1990’s. The area was reduced to rubble by US bombing in 2001. The mudbricks I am holding were used like tiles to line the walls of the cave.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2002
I snapped this picture while flying over the city in a US helicopter. The traditional home of the Taliban, Kandahar has not been a safe place for outsiders for a long time.
Mark Direen – Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2008
My last military deployment to Afghanistan working as an Afghan mentor and trainer and assisting the Afghan Tactical Police to conduct high risk arrests. Together we also joined with the Special Operations Task Group to conduct kill or capture missions on Coalition High Value Targets.
Mark Direen – Afghanistan, 2013
Community Feedback:
‘Outstanding photos & accompanying stories. Humbling and thought provoking. Fantastic exhibit’
‘Beautifully presented exhibition. Raw but informative and a rare insight for the public from our courageous service men and women from their point of view. In the moment and honestly portrayed’
‘An excellent event. That quality of the photos and their presentation was brilliant…and I loved the stories accompanying them’.
‘Well done, brilliantly curated. Thank you for bringing this to the public’