Point Assist

"With adversity comes awareness, insight and perspective. This is the hidden blessing of hardship." Mark Direen - What's the Point Join us at Currumbin RSL for the Point and Shoot Veteran Photography Exhibition this Tuesday and Wednesday! This is a great opportunity to connect, explore powerful veteran stories through photography, and pick up a copy of my new book, What’s the Point? Stop by, say hello, and immerse yourself in these inspiring stories of service and sacrifice. See you there!

How good is the Sunshine Coast? We've have arrived in Maroochydore and are excited to bring the Point and Shoot: Australian Veteran Photography Exhibition to the Maroochy RSL on Tuesday, 22nd and Wednesday, 23rd October. Come say hello to Mark Direen, explore powerful stories through the lens of veterans, and experience the exhibition between 10 am and 8 pm on both days. Hope to see you there.

Always a pleasure returning to Queensland! The warm hospitality here is unmatched, and our event at Club Helensvale with the North Gold Coast RSL Sub-Branch Inc. was no exception. The first 2024 Point and Shoot in QLD was a resounding success, and we’re incredibly grateful to the club for hosting us. Their facilities are absolutely top-notch! A special thank you to RSL Sub-Branch Secretary, Mel, for all your hard work in making this event such a success. Next stop: Maroochy RSL in Maroochydore—see you on Tuesday!!

The Point and Shoot has been an audacious undertaking this year travelling the country; but we have been fueled by the overwhelming positive feedback. Hundreds of viewers from all over Australia have told us how moving the exhibition is and how glad they are that they took the time to come and take in the veteran's experiences. If you're around the Gold Coast, Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast we are only here a few weeks. Come and see the collection of photos before we head south again for 2024. Point and Shoot October 2024 - Queensland Dates and Times. Please share with friends that might be interested. 16 – 17 Oct | Gold Coast, QLD | North Gold Coast RSL Club Helensvale Wednesday 16th Oct - 10am to 7pm Thursday 17th Oct – 8:30am to 7pm 22 – 23 Oct | Sunshine Coast QLD | Maroochy RSL Tuesday 22nd Oct – 10am to 8pm Wednesday 23rd Oct – 10am to 8pm 24 – 25 Oct | Brisbane, QLD | Wynnum RSL Thursday 24th Oct – 12 to 8pm Friday 25th Oct – 10am to Late 29 – 30 Oct | Gold Coast, QLD | Currumbin RSL Tuesday 29th Oct – 10am to 8pm Wednesday 30th Oct – 10am to 8pm

Luke Richmond was right when he said What’s the Point is tough to pin down to a specific genre. It’s not a war story, self-help book, or autobiography. When I sat down in hotel quarantine to write, I had no real plan, just an urge to document a few stories. But what came out of it was more than that. An exercise in self-reflection and a deeper understanding of my own experiences. Now, when asked what category What’s the Point falls into, I answer it’s about self-awareness. In truth, I didn’t write it for anyone else—I wrote it for me. And thanks to a great editor, I’m lucky enough to share it with others. Get a copy at the Point Assist website. #experience #selfawareness #author

Is there anything else you’d like to share about the exhibition? "I don’t have a military background and don’t understand much of what goes on in any context. I find it very difficult to connect with any content that is military or war based. However, I love photography and it’s one of my favourite art mediums in exhibits. The photos opened up a new context of this world and gave me a new found empathy for military life." Queensland 2024. Point and Shoot - Australian Veteran Photography Exhibition. • 16 – 17 Oct | Gold Coast, QLD | North Gold Coast RSL Club • 22 – 23 Oct | Sunshine Coast QLD | Maroochy RSL • 24 – 25 Oct | Brisbane, QLD | Wynnum RSL • 29 – 30 Oct | Gold Coast, QLD | Currumbin RSL The stories and acts of bravery that are recounted in military history do not happen in isolation. It is the sacrifices of the many that allow the stories of the few to be told. Photo: Greg Ivey Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, 1970 The image shows myself, far left, and my Infantry students enjoying a Sports Afternoon. I was an RAAEC Instructor and these soldiers undertook Australian-standard courses to become eligible for promotion to Senior NCO level or higher. Instruction in the classroom was in English, usually the students' third language. Outside the classroom, conversation was often in Tok Pisin and friendships were formed over many a sporting and social event. #veterans #experience #photography #Exhibition Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs RSL Queensland

Our recent exhibition at the iconic Anzac Memorial in Sydney has been one of our most successful events to date. We were honoured to showcase the powerful stories and images captured by Australian military veterans at this historic Australian Location. It was an event filled with mateship and reflection, as both friends and members of the public came together to support the service and sacrifice of our service personnel and learning some of the lesser known stories of modern service. We were blown away by the incredible turnout and heartfelt feedback shared. The conversations sparked and connections made during the exhibition are what make the Point & Shoot so special. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this exhibition truly memorable. Your support helps us continue to celebrate the resilience, bravery and creativity of those who serve. Our next event at North Gold Coast RSL, Club Helensvale on the 16 – 17 October is in the final stages of preparation. If you are on the Gold Coast, we hope to see you there. #PointAndShoot #VeteranStories #AnzacMemorial #Sydney #mateship #photography #veteran #experience

A big first day in Sydney . Day one of the Point and Shoot at Anzac Memorial had a great start. Lots of the public already coming along as well as 9 News Sydney calling in to produce a news feature of the exhibition. We then finished the day off at the Oatley RSL and Community Club sharing some stories and talking about my new book ‘What's the Point’ Looking forward to chatting to more of you over the coming days. #photo #exhibition #veteran #experience

Arrived in Sydney and ready to set up tomorrow morning. Looking forward to meeting everyone at the memorial and sharing the photos with the public. #anzac #exhibition #photography #experience #sydney

Join Me for an evening of stories and sharing at the Oatley RSL. 📅 This Wednesday, October 2nd at 7 PM (Downstairs in the Community Club) I’m excited to invite you to this event where I will be sharing my journey from Australian soldier to adventuring across the world. During the event, I will talk about my time in the Special Forces, including the defining moment when I survived an IED blast in Afghanistan and navigating the challenges of a war zone. I'll also be discussing my transition from military life to running my own businesses and how that journey shaped my book, "What's the Point?" — a deep dive into the meaning of life and how embracing every experience has transformed me. The club is also putting on some Lucky Door Prizes. You could win one of two $100 meat trays from The Soldiers Cut or a bottle of my Dog Tag Whiskey. Come along for an evening of courage, resilience, and a few stories that might just inspire you to live life more fully. Bring your friends and family—open to the public, it's going to be a night. I hope to see you there. #OatleyRSL #MarkDireen #LiveEvent #Inspiration #Community #WhatsthePoint #DogTagWhiskey #RSLAustralia #rslnsw #Veterans #Oatley #OatleyNSW Mark Direen