Robyn Beeche Award.
My project focused on the Latrobe Valley area from which I am from.
Living in a rural community your identity is tied with who you are so what happens when your community is forgotten about? The Latrobe Valley is an example of this where little-to-nothing changes over years and the same issues are still being faced. Despite these issues this self-proclaimed ‘street family’ are some of the most resilient and quick to welcome despite the hardships, with each person looking out for the other even when they themselves are struggling.
With chronic health conditions being more common here than Australia’s average and having the second highest rate of violent crime in Victoria only beaten by Melbourne’s CBD. Yet when you mention Latrobe most people are unfamiliar with it.
How can you expect change when most people look the other way and people struggling get given labels about who they are without a second look.
Having started this project in early 2023 I’ve had the privilege to get to know new people and be welcomed into peoples’ homes and lives. The photos are taken with a level of informed consent with people seeing how the images will be used as well as getting prints with their photos.
