Matt Talbot // Photographer // Army
12 months ago, I realised I needed to stop work due to my deteriorating health, both physically and mentally.
All relating to my army service and deployments from 20 years ago.
I had plans to get help and support from government and non-government agencies, asked for a DVA rehabilitation plan, my goal was health, education, and happiness.
Finally, at the start of this year, I got everything in place to stop work, incapacity payments from DVA, support for my doctor, and family.
The next six months, I did it alone as all the agencies I was told would help did nothing, recommendations from group activities in Queensland, specialty appointments in Perth, dog training with a RSL (prerequisite of bringing your own dog, don’t have one sadly allergic to them), the support was useless and more often than, comical.
Email sent, phone calls made, and lucky to get a reply that led to nothing.
Until one day I was told about ANVAM, not once but twice on the same day.
So the following week, I put on a brave face and walked on in. I walked on to see what ANVAM was about, because I needed social and wellness connections and didn’t want to wait for no reply from an email or a voicemail.
What I found was a reason to get out of the house, a reason to explore something new.
ANVAM didn’t just say hi, they welcomed me into their world, the world that is fun, supportive, and giving me hope for the future.
I walk a lot with a camera in my hand, as it feels better than my assault rifle that is now slowly getting let go after 20 years.
I take photos to show the beauty in a world around me, to allow my escape into the wildness, to allow me to be present and focus on one thing and find its beauty.
I now don’t just take a nice picture, I see the depth and meaning of it, I see other ways that a busy mind can let go and grow.
I now look at the image and grow depth of it via printmaking and sketching.
ANVAM didn’t just give me something to do and some art, ANVAM invited me into a supportive world with connections and a future I am very much looking forward to exploring.
ANVAM is the place, but Kelly, Jo, Tanja and the rest of the team have made me welcome in more ways I can imagine.
I have seen the show and got the T-shirt, I wear it with pride.
