The Love of the Land yields great results

The beauty of the Esperance Port Zone has been captured by many farmers participating in the annual South East Premium Wheat Growers’ Association photo competition.

More than 40 entries were received in this year’s competition with the theme For The Love of the Land, which encouraged local farmers and industry to share their passion for living and working on the land. The competition, judged by renowned Esperance-based photographer Dan Paris, had four winners, including the inaugural winner of the new junior award for primary school students throughout the region.

The overall winning photograph was awarded to Hannah Montefiorre for her photo of a header in action with an old tractor in the foreground at Salmon Gums.

Mr Paris said he chose this photo because he had a “soft spot for rusty old machinery” and also because the image told the story of many generations on the land.

“The slowly decomposing tractor has been stood down from duty, yet stands as a tribute to all the blood, sweat and tears and the commitment to life on the land,” he said. Tara Walter was named the inaugural winner of the junior award for her creative shot of a love heart in a pile of grain, which Mr Paris said showed she had a lot of love and creativity.

Two photos were given high commendation by Mr Paris, including one taken by Olivia Walter of a framed sunset in a love heart created by a set of hands and Mic Fels’ photo of a rainbow which finished in a flowering canola crop.

“Rainbows are up there with rusty machinery, I just love them,” Mr Paris said.