Macarthur’s natural beauty and environmental diversity were celebrated when almost 400 entrants in the 2015 Macarthur Nature Photography Competition gathered to display their images and acknowledge the winners of the popular annual event.
Guest speaker, ABC TV’s Gardening Australia host, Costa Georgiadis, charmed the audience at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School,
with his passion for sustainability and environmental education.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Hawker, congratulated all the participants and thanked the sponsors for supporting the competition, which is now in its eighth year and going from strength to strength.
“The quality and variety of the images submitted highlights the talent of our local community and diversity of the region’s natural environment,” Cr Hawker said.
“We’re lucky to live in an area with pristine bushland, unspoilt waterways and prolific wildlife and Campbelltown Council – in partnership with Camden and Wollondilly Councils – is proud to host the Macarthur Nature Photography Competition to celebrate the magnificence of our local environment.
“Our region is home to a variety of unique plants and animals, and photography is the perfect tool to capture their beauty,” Cr Hawker said.
The People’s Choice Winner, Lorraine Ann McKenzie, received a Panasonic Camera valued at $300 from Macarthur Camera House and Panasonic, for her photograph Awaiting the arrival.
For the first time, schools were eligible to win a prize, thanks to the Western Sydney University and Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living sponsoring two prize packages valued at more than $1500.
Dylan Anbu, from Holy Family Parish School at Ingleburn, won the Primary School prize, with his entry Me Kookaburra! and Christine Proietti from Magdalene Catholic High School won the High School category and prize package, with her entry Mount Annan Bridge.
Other prizes included $300 for first place in each theme (open section), $150 for first place in each theme (young people’s section); $150 for second place in each theme (open section) and $75 for second place in each theme (young people’s section).
First place in the Nature Snap theme (all ages) received $200.
All entries will become part of a travelling exhibition to the participating council areas.
The entries, which have been on display at Macarthur Square since October 19, will be available for viewing at Narellan Library during November 9-20 and Wollondilly Council Administration Building for a period thereafter.
To view the winning images online, visit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/MNPC for the link to Council’s Flickr account.
OPEN CATEGORY WINNERS
Waterways
1st place: David Williams – Solitary Bird
2nd place: Dana Sullivan – Find that river that flows in you
Highly Commended: Stephen Peters – Lost in the mist of time
Stephen Peters – The Magic Hour
Flora and Fauna
1st place: Mark Walters – Eastern Spinebill
2nd place: Kira Alia Leeon – Lorikeets Drinking
Highly Commended: Jessica Davies – Bath time
David Tuck – Male Satin Flycatcher
Tania Smith – Cockatoo Crazy
Adam Page – Flo & Eddie
Environmental Impact
1st place: Jessica Greenland – The price of prices
2nd place: Stephen Peters – Toxic (Blue) Faced Pollution
Highly Commended: Silvia Grimm – Crackdown on Ibis
Nature Up Close
1st Place: Glen Smith – Spiky Mikey
2nd Place: Mark Walters – Honey Bee
Highly Commended: Danny Boys – Highland Snake
Lyn Forbes – Lady Beetles
David Tuck – Mud Dauber Wasp
Nature Snap
Winner: Julie Levell – untitled image
YOUNG PEOPLE’S SECTION WINNERS
Waterways
1st Place: Christine Proietti – Mount Annan Bridge
2nd Place: Dylan Anbu – Enjoy your Garden!
Highly Commended: Simone Roberts – Splash of Gold
Flora and Fauna
1st Place: Damien Anbu – Height Does Not Matter
2nd Place: Dali Martin – Waratah
Highly Commended: Britney D’Souza – Sleeping Beauty
Environmental Impact
1st Place: Travon Avia – Rubbish is not on!
2nd Place: Jack Beeby – Road in the Bush
Nature Up Close
1st Place: Jack Beeby – Bright Daisy
2nd Place: Courtney Brown – Season of Pollination
Highly Commended: Ebonnie Brincat – For Saken
Taj Hickson – Morning Mist
Primary School
Overall Winner: Dylan Anbu – Me kookaburra!
School: Holy Family Parish School, Ingleburn
High School
Overall Winner: Christine Proietti – Mount Annan Bridge
School: Magdalene Catholic High School
People’s Choice Award
Winner: Lorraine Ann McKenzie – Awaiting the arrival
