14th September 2023 | 

We are very excited to announce the winners of the 2023 Tasmanian Community Landcare Photo Competition! A huge thank you to everyone who participated and shared their special places, people and creativity.  We are so impressed with the unique perspectives, stunning compositions and visual storytelling abilities from the competition entries. A big thanks to Keep Tassie Wild and Stallards Camera House Hobart for donating prizes! Check out the winners below. 

Overall Winner 

The overall winner is the entry with the highest total score across all categories. Entries are judged on technical skill, relevance to to the category and to Landcare, creativity, storytelling ability, and visual impact. This photographer is awarded a Stallards Camera House Hobart gift voucher for a 24 x 36" (61 x 92cm) mounted canvas print on premium smooth cotton rag. Congratulations! 

Men of Gough - Ian Sale

'This is a composite panorama photo of an ecologist climbing a big White Gum (Gough) at Loongana, looking at hollows to study use of this area by Masked Owls. Threat of a power line being built through this area has been met with 'citizen science' by local community and the owners looking at White Gum forest and residents and visitors including Devils, Quolls, Masked Owls, Giant Freshwater Crayfish, platypus and burrowing crayfish. (original photo file is large as it involves several shots)'

Category Winners

Category winners were awarded the highest score in their category.  Entries are judged on technical skill, relevance to to the category and to Landcare, creativity, storytelling ability, and visual impact.  Each category winner will be presented with a Keep Tassie Wild sticker and patch prize pack, and a Landcare Tasmania sticker and card prize pack.

1. Healthy Landscapes

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head - Amy Hagen

'This is a photo of micro fungi, so tiny it was hiding within a dark log. This photo was taken with just a smart phone, right after some rain. I believe it's important for Tasmanians to explore their surrounds as there is so much magic and beauty to be found, even in the smallest of places. Fungi is so diverse and plays a huge part in all things nature.'

*Runner Up* Nature's Recyclers - Rory Black

'A group of Tasmanian fungi - Marasmius crinis-equi. Showcasing a healthy landscape and ecosystem. Fungi are known as nature's recyclers, and have a symbiotic relationship with plants, giving them access to more nutrients which in turn creates more oxygen and cleaner air in our beautiful island home of lutruwita (Tasmania).'

2. Empowered Communities

Turning a Corner - Barbara Marshall

'A year ago this place was in desperate need of care; it was a mess of marram grass and mature wild radish seed heads. There were doubts it would recover quickly. In the past year alone, however, it has been completely transformed by the care and interest shown to bring it back to what it might have been before the marram grass was planted and the big machines brought in their weeds. Everyone admires it, and we love to care for it!

You can see from the smiles on our volunteers' faces that they are happy to be working here, to be taking control, to see the positive change, to be chatting and developing friendships and to enjoy the sun on their backs. The clear success of the weeding and planting efforts here has motivated to group to continue rehabilitating the length of Kingston Beach over the coming years.'

3. Supportive Network

Woods of turrakana - Liam Oakwood

'Deep in the coastal rainforests of turrukana/Tasman peninsula mycelial networks break down fallen timber and return it to the soil'

4. Strong Foundations

Flourishing Fungi Families - Sharon Bell 

'Although the forest floor often appears littered with debris, fungi are quietly doing their job and contributing to the ecosystem. They break down old trees and plant matter and nutrients are returned to the soil. Fungi are not only beautiful but play an important role in our forests. They are recyclers and the foundation for new life.'

5. Junior Category

The Things we Leave Behind - Ruby Williamson

'This is a photo of a hat on a rock with nobody in sight. It symbolises how things can be left behind and feel worthless but still be something beautiful.'

*Highly Commended*

Sea Eagle Over the Huon River - Asher Bradbury

'The sea eagle is building momentum through the air, using its knowledge of wind currents into flight'

Promenalinah - Barbara Marshall 

'Since 2020, Kingston Beach Coastcare has been regularly weeding and planting this particular patch of the reserve; it's a favourite with our regulars. You can see on the other side of the river that restoration of the buffer zone of Browns River on the golf course side has begun also. Behind this site out of view, school children have been restoring that part of the riverbank too.  This site and its potential for health and beauty attracted new members, gave us a shared purpose and developed our sense of ownership right from the start of our journey together. This site definitely helped to build the momentum of community involvement in our group.' 

Dolerite Cradle - Liam Oakwood 

'Dolerite intrusions form bedrock across much of lutruwita. It weathers down over aeons into soil that supports the diverse species of lutruwita, though sometimes life can be impatient and find support on even the barest of rocky spires'

Thanks to everyone who took the time out to contribute so wonderfully to this community Landcare photography competition. 

A huge thanks to Stallards Camera House Hobart and Keep Tassie Wild for donating prizes to this competition.