Over the weekend I took a walk through the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, and was on hand for the opening of an exhibition being seen for the first time outside of Canberra.

“Ink in the Lines” is a photographic exhibition telling the stories of service men and women and their tattoos which mark their time as soldiers, their experiences of trauma, and to commemorate the loss of life.

I also viewed a moving, locally commissioned artwork called “41”, by Freya Jobbins, in memory of the 41 Australian soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Lastly, I checked out the MQ-9 Reaper I-III, an audiovisual work exploring remote technology in combat.

I encourage everyone to go and check out the exhibitions currently on display at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Some wonderful pieces and moving stories to be heard.

Pictured with me are Deputy Mayor Dallas Tout and Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matt Anderson.