GEROGERY woman Kristin Walsh has been named one of 12 winners in this year's Rural Aid 'Spirit of the Bush' photography competition and her image will feature in the charity's 2022 calendar.
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Ms Walsh's image was selected from a pool of 700 entries and is her second consecutive win after she secured a spot in Rural Aid's 2021 calendar.
Adjudicators said her entry this year, which captures the fallout of two children playing in the mud, embodies "what it is like to be a kid in the bush".
Rural Aid chief executive John Warlters said Ms Walsh's consecutive win is a testament to her lived experience of rural life and her ability to translate a story through photography.
"Her image could play out on any property, any farm, anywhere around the country" Mr Warlters said. "I just love the little details, those grubby feet, and you can imagine the fun those kids have had playing in that mud.
"Their clothes are filthy and dirty, with mum probably cursing at the kids as they walk through the front door.
"She just had the knack of capturing a story, bringing it to life and sharing it with other people."
She [Kristin] just gets what it's like to be in the bush.
- Rural Aid chief executive, John Warlters
Winners were selected from a pool of professional and amateur photographers for their ability to encapsulate the beauty and resilience of life on the land.
Mr Warlters said he was floored by the quality of the entries, which continue to impress judges year after year.
"I think each of us that were on that judging panel was incredibly excited about reviewing the images, but it was also a bit of a curse in a way because there were so many amazing photos that whittling it down to just 12 was a real challenge," Mr Warlters said.
"With technology, you can take amazing images, whether it's through the traditional camera, or whether it's with an iPhone, which the cameras on them seem to get better and better every year.
"This current batch of photos for me only reinforces that, there are some cracking images amongst them."
The 12 winning images from this year will feature in the 2022 edition of Rural Aid's annual calendar, with sales directly supporting the leading rural charity. "It is one of our bigger projects throughout the year and the funds raised allow us to support farmers, their families and their mental wellbeing through droughts, floods, fires and mice plagues," Mr Warlters said.
Hayley Wilkinson
Born and raised within the Riverina, Hayley launched her journalism career at The Daily Advertiser in September 2021. During her time she covered events, entertainment and human interest stories.
Born and raised within the Riverina, Hayley launched her journalism career at The Daily Advertiser in September 2021. During her time she covered events, entertainment and human interest stories.
