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Finding Joy

I can honestly say 2021 was one of the most challenging years for my family and I. I decided that I needed some much needed self care and prioritised my physical and mental health above all else, including the project. Are you someone who just pushes through at all costs? I have done that before only to be far worse off for it.  I truly believe in the power of shared lived experiences. Here's what I did to get myself back on track - healthier than ever both physically, mentally and emo...

Mental Health & COVID 19

In May & June this year I embarked on another school road trip in the Kimberley region. This trip was kindly supported by the Shire of Broome. After a rocky start and delays due to COVID, I finally managed to make my way up to Broome, Beagle Bay, Lombadina and down to Bidyadanga. Beagle Bay remains a closed community and I am so grateful the community granted us special access to visit Sacred Heart School. Angela and I were fortunate enough to be part of the First Communion celebrations at the f...

Mud Moments

I did everything wrong. I was approaching our destination with only a mud map. I realised I had veered too far left from the lake. The tracks were heading in to the bush - our accommodation was by the beach. I knew I had to turn back. And then I got bogged. In mud. If you know me by now you'd know I love nothing more than a roadtrip in the remote Kimberley. I know my car well, how to change a tyre etc..but this time I panicked. It was 3pm. We had no mobile or radio reception. Thankfully, I did c...

Gesture

Gesture in photos.. What is it? I was fortunate to learn from a master of photography the concept of 'gesture' in photos. Jay Maisel, America's pioneer of street photography  refers to gesture as 'qualities that distinguish a particular subject from the archetypal - and by extension, good photographs from boring ones'. It could be  colour or patterns in a photo, the way someone is holding an item, the intricacy of a table leg, a feature on someone's face, textures in photos -...

2020 Photo Story

The brief was this. 'Show me your world in photos, show me your perspectives, photograph an emotion'. And so they did. Here is a collection of photos by some students I have worked with this year. Students range in ages from 10-17 years old. I hope you enjoy seeing their art....Head over to the gallery page to see the awesome photo talent: https://www.theunframedproject... I have some special news to share. Christmas came early for me. The Shire of Broome has gifted me some funding. In addi...

New Beginnings

Today is my last day in Broome. This week has been bittersweet. I finished work at Broome Hospital on Monday. It was my very last shift in the High Dependancy Unit (HDU) where I have worked 99% of my time here, often on my own looking after very unwell patients. It has been challenging but I thrive on challenges. I have learnt about Indigenous health issues and the complexity involved in their care. Working in a regional hospital that services an area the size of New South Wales is onl...

Choices

Yiramalay School is located  between the Great Northern Highway and the Gibb River Rd. Driving in past the quarry flanked by giant boulders and boab trees it certainly felt like I was in a very special place. Sarah & I spent 2 days at the school located 400km east of Broome. Each year students from Wesley College in Melbourne do an exchange programme with local Indigenous students. It's a great way to introduce city life to Indigenous students and for Melbourne students to get a taste of wh...

Focus

No matter how good your editing skills are, you can never fix a blurry photo. Sometimes blur or 'bokeh' in a photo is beautiful. The photos below show how effective blurring the background can be to draw focus to an object. When focussing on details, you will see things you never noticed before, even if you see that object every day. This is the gift of photography, it teaches you how to see. Looking through the viewfinder of a camera is far more effective at this than a smartphone.  Frog H...

East Kimberley Roadtrip

After 4 weeks on the road and 5000km I am back in Broome. It was an 800km drive (9 hours) back to Broome. I am  so incredibly grateful  to everyone I have met on the trip. There were 2 items on my Kimberley bucket list that I managed to do - a cruise on Lake Argyle (includes a sunset swim) and to drive over the Ivanhoe water crossing (yes there are saltwater crocodiles in the water). The Ivanhoe Crossing was the original road from Wyndham to Kununurra. It only takes a couple of minutes...

Safety Plan

Last week Sarah & I visited Wananami Remote Community School. It is only accessible by the Gibb River Rd, a 4WD corrugated road located 2 hours north of Broome. In the wet season, this community gets cut off from the rest of the world. The school is near Manning Gorge, which is MAGNIFICENT, even without the waterfall at present. The 600km drive was long but worth it. The first day was spent doing mental health activities. The next day, the students took us to the Manning Gorge River where they s...

Contrast

I have been working with Broome Girl's Academy Year 7 girls for the past month. This week was learning about contrast and balance in your photos and in your life. Life is full of contrasts. Night and day, ups and downs, the crazy times, the stillness, pure joy and heartbreaking tragedy. I have endured much loss in my life but have also experienced much elation. It's these contrasts in life, more so the difficult times, where you will grow. They will test your faith in humanity, question your pur...

Ngalapita School

Why is it that when you are heading to your destination it always takes longer than the return trip? My friend Sarah and I recently visited Nglapita Remote Community School, 450km from Broome. There is nothing like heading out on a roadtrip before sunrise with some good coffee, fresh country air,  my Spotify roadtrip music and good company. Sarah volunteered her time to come with me and I am grateful I always have friends who want to help me and see how the project works. I by no means...

Reflections

Last week, I was one of the lucky ones who got the chance to see my family and friends again, unlike most people I know. While in Perth I reflected on my journey and where it all began. I met Chloe 3 years ago and I know that was a  defining point in my life. It certainly hasn't been an easy ride,  but there have definitely been more amazing times and incredible opportunities gifted to me that drown out all the negativity I have encountered since the Unframed Project was just an idea u...

Love or Fear

The butcherbird. Fearless and free. He visits my garden most days. I hear him before I see him. He has the most beautiful bird call that doesn't  match his name. The butcherbird has a hook shaped beak that catches its prey  with fierce determination. Like the butcherbird, I hope my students will always believe in themselves and soar higher than they ever thought possible. Last week I was finally able to go back to school. It was the last week of school and there were only a few student...

Silver linings

As a nurse, in the remote town of Broome, I didn't think I would be so affected by COVID but I was wrong. Meeting after meeting at work we were all trying to figure out how  Broome Hospital and the Kimberley would cope if the coronavirus spread in a region that is 40% Indigenous and home to many remote communities. It would be disastrous. How would we prepare for what seemed the inevitable?  The worst case scenarios were put to us. Broome would become the COVID hospital for the Kimberl...

When are you coming home?

It's a question my mum has always asked me whenever I am away from Perth. With the craziness of COVID easing and the Kimberley borders now open,  I could finally tell her last week ....in just a few weeks I will be back on the farm for a much needed short break. But this question that I ashamedly admit used to drive me a little crazy and had me getting somewhat annoyed with my mum for constantly asking, is a question some parents don't get to ask anymore.  I received an email this week...

Gratitude....

Sometimes life surprises you in ways you can never imagine. I have found this post incredibly difficult to write because how can you ever thank those enough who have supported your dream with immense generosity and without even knowing you personally? In July 2019, I received a phone call from Harvey Norman's sponsorship team in Sydney. I had NO idea what was in store for me. Harvey Norman and Sky News were doing a series on the Paul Murray Live Show called 'Our Town', visiting an...

Why are you here miss?

Last year I headed up to Pender Bay 'on country' with a group of teenagers. Pender Bay is located 180km north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula. Geraldine Shadforth, an Elder from Beagle Bay runs Youth Empowerment and Healing Cultural Camp (YEaHCC). The one-week camps take place every school holiday period and is led by Geraldine's not for profit Burrongglo Aboriginal Corporation. The camp provides the opportunity to focus on the protective, cultural factors of young people who are considered a...