Veterans Instameet #54 - Malabar Battery

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Come and join us for an Sunday afternoon of exploration around Malabar Head.

On Sunday 20th September 2026 Veterans Instameet #54 will take us to the eastern suburbs for some exploring around the coastal defence battery built during World War II .

We will be meeting at the Fisherman's Road boat ramp carpark (northern end of Malabar Beach) at 3:30pm with the plan to take a walk along the coastal track taking photos along the way.

As the sunsets we'll do some light painting and steel wool spinning before calling it a night.

Register via the link below and let me know if you have any questions?

Mathew Bell - 0409 241 419





Location:


Who is The Veterans Instameet

The Veterans Instameet is a veteran-led photography community founded in 2014 by Mathew Bell (MRyan Photography). Created following his discharge from military service after serving in East Timor and Afghanistan, the group was built on a shared passion for photography and a desire to reconnect with others who understood the transition from military life.

After leaving service, many veterans experience a sense of disconnection from the defence community. At the time, there were few creative or photography-based outlets specifically for veterans. Veterans Instameet was created to fill that gap, bringing like-minded veterans together through photography, encouraging creativity, building friendships and maintaining strong connections beyond discharge.

What began as a small group of veterans quickly grew into a supportive community, expanding to include families of defence members and later welcoming those from emergency services backgrounds. Today after 53 events between Sydney, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Melbourne, Veterans Instameet continues to provide a relaxed, inclusive environment where members can share experiences, develop photography skills and strengthen the bonds formed through service.


Please Note:
As most of the events are outdoors, there is always a physical element. Most events require a walk from the carpark to the area of interest or a more strenuous trek. The majority of events are mobile, meaning we're constantly on the move while shooting. The important aspect to us is the psychological well being that comes from a day. The aim is for everyone to have fun and make connections to other people with shared backgrounds. Photography is in the background most of the time, we have the aim for everyone to chat, laugh and shoot photos. 
Each event carries risk and by registering and attending the event, each participant agrees to take responsibility for their own safety. Safety is everyone's responsibility and if in doubt, or if anyone feels unsafe it is the individual’s responsibility to sit out the event or highlight it to the other members.  Each participant assumes all risk associated with any activity whilst with the Veterans Instameet. Each participant assumes full responsibility for themselves, their choices, their actions and their equipment. 
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MT-A Reunion

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SAVE THE DATE - Saturday 5th September 2026.

I am putting together a reunion of the 2012 Mentoring Team Alpha in Canberra.

The PMV blown up on the 10th July 2012 known as 'Debbie' will be the centerpiece of the new Afghanistan Galleries at the Australian War memorial. I've arrange with the AWM staff to bring the whole mentoring team down on the day to see Debbie and have a catch up, 14 years later.

I'd like to bring as many of the veterans from our 2012 trip, the FOB Hadrian crew, together for a catch up. We will meet at the AWM, see Debbie, do the Last Post Ceremony then head off for beers and dinner.

The plan:

1330 Meet outside the Australian War Memorial, wearing suits, beret and medals.
I'd love to have all of our families and kids here to experience this with us. They are all welcome to join in and share this experience.

1630 - Last Post Ceremony at the Pool of Reflection.
We've been given the honor by the AWM staff of laying a wreath and take part in the ceremony.

1730 Meet drinks and dinner at the Mercure Canberra, I've reserved a space at Olims Bar and Bistro’s beer garden. This is just for the boys, no families and kids. We can order over the bar individually for drinks and food. 

Please register below if you're keen to come along.

Cheers,
Mathew Bell - 0409 241 419







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Veterans Instameet #53 - Lithgow Astro and Hike

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Yes, it will be the middle of winter, yes we plan to camp out over night in Lithgow and yes, we are going for a hike the following day! If this sounds like fun, pack your swag, hiking boots, camera gear and thermals and come and join the Veterans Instameet on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026 for Veterans Instameet #53.

We will be camping overnight near Lithgow, so we can get some astro photos in and around the Lithgow blast furnace. The following morning after brekkie and a coffee we'll head out and hike the Lost City walking track, a 6km return hike with some great photography opportunities along the way.

More details will come out to those whom have registered closer to the event. 

Register via the link below and let me know if you have any questions?

Mathew Bell - 0409 241 419





Location:





Who is The Veterans Instameet

The Veterans Instameet is a veteran-led photography community founded in 2014 by Mathew Bell (MRyan Photography). Created following his discharge from military service after serving in East Timor and Afghanistan, the group was built on a shared passion for photography and a desire to reconnect with others who understood the transition from military life.

After leaving service, many veterans experience a sense of disconnection from the defence community. At the time, there were few creative or photography-based outlets specifically for veterans. Veterans Instameet was created to fill that gap, bringing like-minded veterans together through photography, encouraging creativity, building friendships and maintaining strong connections beyond discharge.

What began as a small group of veterans quickly grew into a supportive community, expanding to include families of defence members and later welcoming those from emergency services backgrounds. Today after 52 events between Sydney, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Melbourne, Veterans Instameet continues to provide a relaxed, inclusive environment where members can share experiences, develop photography skills and strengthen the bonds formed through service.


Please Note:
As most of the events are outdoors, there is always a physical element. Most events require a walk from the carpark to the area of interest or a more strenuous trek. The majority of events are mobile, meaning we're constantly on the move while shooting. The important aspect to us is the psychological well being that comes from a day. The aim is for everyone to have fun and make connections to other people with shared backgrounds. Photography is in the background most of the time, we have the aim for everyone to chat, laugh and shoot photos. 
Each event carries risk and by registering and attending the event, each participant agrees to take responsibility for their own safety. Safety is everyone's responsibility and if in doubt, or if anyone feels unsafe it is the individual’s responsibility to sit out the event or highlight it to the other members.  Each participant assumes all risk associated with any activity whilst with the Veterans Instameet. Each participant assumes full responsibility for themselves, their choices, their actions and their equipment. 
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Veterans Instameet #52 - Vivid Sydney

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Come and join the Veterans Instameet crew on Sunday 31st May 2026 in Circular Quay to shoot Vivid! 

Weather your a seasoned photographer or looking to learn, we're inviting all veterans to come along and get involved. 

We will be meeting at 5:00pm outside the Museum of Contemporary Art on the lawn facing the ferries. From there we will walk my favourite route to capture the Opera House and Harbour Bridge before cutting across to Darling Harbour if we have time.

Come for a few hours or all night, the choice is yours! Comfortable shoes and warm clothes are a must!

Register via the link below and let me know if you have any questions?

Mathew Bell - 0409 241 419




Location:

Meet here at 5:00pm





The Veterans Instameet is a veteran-led photography community founded in 2014 by Mathew Bell (MRyan Photography). Created following his discharge from military service after serving in East Timor and Afghanistan, the group was built on a shared passion for photography and a desire to reconnect with others who understood the transition from military life.

After leaving service, many veterans experience a sense of disconnection from the defence community. At the time, there were few creative or photography-based outlets specifically for veterans. Veterans Instameet was created to fill that gap, bringing like-minded veterans together through photography, encouraging creativity, building friendships and maintaining strong connections beyond discharge.

What began as a small group of veterans quickly grew into a supportive community, expanding to include families of defence members and later welcoming those from emergency services backgrounds. Today after 52 events between Sydney, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Melbourne, Veterans Instameet continues to provide a relaxed, inclusive environment where members can share experiences, develop photography skills and strengthen the bonds formed through service.


Please Note:
As most of the events are outdoors, there is always a physical element. Most events require a walk from the carpark to the area of interest or a more strenuous trek. The majority of events are mobile, meaning we're constantly on the move while shooting. The important aspect to us is the psychological well being that comes from a day. The aim is for everyone to have fun and make connections to other people with shared backgrounds. Photography is in the background most of the time, we have the aim for everyone to chat, laugh and shoot photos. 
Each event carries risk and by registering and attending the event, each participant agrees to take responsibility for their own safety. Safety is everyone's responsibility and if in doubt, or if anyone feels unsafe it is the individual’s responsibility to sit out the event or highlight it to the other members.  Each participant assumes all risk associated with any activity whilst with the Veterans Instameet. Each participant assumes full responsibility for themselves, their choices, their actions and their equipment. 
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Veterans Instameet #51 - FOVA 2026

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Veterans Instameet #51

 
We are hitting the road and heading south to run our second Melbourne Veterans Instameet on Sunday 22nd March 2026 around Hosier Lane.


We've been invited down by the team at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum to run an instameet as part of their annual Festival of Veteran Arts program.

We will be meeting outside ANVAM at 312 St Kilda Road, Southbank at 1:45pm, jumping onto a tram to head into the CBD.

From there we will be talking a stroll through the alleyways and back streets photographing what we spot along the way. We'll stop for a coffee and cake along the way.

It doesn't matter your skill level, everyone is welcome as we'll teach you the basics of photography through this mobile workshop.

Tickets are limited, so it's first in best dressed with your registration on the link below.

I'd love to meet more Melbourne based veterans and build our photography community!

Any questions let me know!

Mathew Bell - 0409 241 419



Meeting Point


ANVAM, 312 St Kilda Road, Southbank
VICTORIA, 3006


PROUDLY SPONSORED BY 




Who Are We?!



We are a veterans photography group called the Veterans Instameet. Initially set up in 2014 by myself, Mathew Bell, a former grunt and an ex-engineer, Warrick Eady. We had both just come back from service in Afghanistan and found common ground through photography. After discharge we both felt completely disconnected from the defence community and found there was no photography outlets or groups veteran based. We felt that having this shared interest, we could get other like minded veterans together with photography as the basis and have fun and keep the connections to members post discharge. We soon expanded the group to include families of defence members and then the emergency services. We welcomed Andrew Judson on as one of the event volunteers, with his 10 years in defence, a background in personal training and a budding outdoorsman to boot he has been a regular at the past events and is always good for a chat and laugh.

We have since run 50 events in and around Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

We are comprised of former ADF members, current serving members, children of veterans, the emergency services, SES and a number of non serving civilians who support us and what we've been through.


Please Note:
As most of the events are outdoors, there is always a physical element. Most events require a walk from the carpark to the area of interest or a more strenuous trek. The majority of events are mobile, meaning we're constantly on the move while shooting. The important aspect to us is the psychological well being that comes from a day. The aim is for everyone to have fun and make connections to other people with shared backgrounds. Photography is in the background most of the time, we have the aim for everyone to chat, laugh and shoot photos. 
Each event carries risk and by registering and attending the event, each participant agrees to take responsibility for their own safety. Safety is everyone's responsibility and if in doubt, or if anyone feels unsafe it is the individual’s responsibility to sit out the event or highlight it to the other members.  Each participant assumes all risk associated with any activity whilst with the Veterans Instameet. Each participant assumes full responsibility for themselves, their choices, their actions and their equipment. 
Read More »

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