Kangaroo Island - a holiday 'overseas' yet close to home.
Kangaroo Island - I don't think I can get enough of it. And soon, I'm hoping I'll be lukcy enough to go back. AIPP (Aust Institue of Professional Photographers) are working with National Archives, Australian War Memorial and RSL to photograph as many WWII Veterans as we can between now and July 2015.
I have volunteered to photograph veterans in the Blackwood, Mitcham, Yankalilla and Kangaroo Island areas. We have at least one living on KI, so soon… I'll be back.
www.aippveterans.com
I have been to KI many times, with my dad when I was younger, on work trips. On a few work trips myself, and with the family on holiday. Each trip has given me different experiences. Racing Dad up the highest hill on the island, walking along stormy beaches at sunrise, fish and chips seaside at Kingscote, sliding down sand dunes at Little Sahara and standing in awe at the sea lions at Seal Bay. Flinders Chase and our camping in a week of rain are two complete stories themselves.
What do they say about the journey? Getting over to KI can be half the fun. We always go by ferry, at Cape Jervis - and the experiences I've had onboard always surprise me.
With the old ferry, I remember sitting up front during a storm, getting pelted with sea water as we crashed down from wave to wave while Dad was downstairs barely keeping his dinner down.
On my last trip, I remember not knowing where to look, as one by one, (what seemed like) everyone around me started using the vomit bags. Boy, I wish I had and eye mask and headphones.
And of course, on our family trip, I will never forget my daughter getting her fingers squashed in the toilet door. Ouch, you say. Yes, especially considering the door was an outside heavy, storm door that I had to lean my weight against to push open. Staff ran around busily, trying to stop her screaming and see what damage was done. A killer python lolly fixed the screaming, and a trip to the hospital was recommended on arrival in Kangaroo Island. Thankfully for us, and her, by the time we got off and started driving, her fingers were starting to form shape again. And the pain had virtually gone.
I love the diversity, peacefulness and beauty. There are kangaroos, birds, beaches, country roads - plus good country folk, wine, food and coffee. Hey, there is a festival (FEASTival) for a reason. This island is a photographers worst enemy when trying to keep track of time and on schedule. But I could think of many worse places to 'get carried away' and immerse myself.
I took photos while we were on holiday, but tragically, due to not watching little fingers on little people, I lost all my images shot at Seal Bay and Little Sahara. I am itching to get back to photograph these - hoping there will be beautiful skies, male sea lions fighting, and plenty of sand-boarders to keep my appetite settled - the things we had on holiday.
Please keep your ears and eyes open for any veterans - in KI, or anywhere in Australia. We want to photograph them all. www.aippveterans.com for more info about the project.
www.sealink.com.au
www.sealbay.sa.gov.au
www.southaustralia.com
www.tourkangarooisland.com.au
