Photographer Georgia Shepherd captures raw emotions of life on the SA-Victoria border

From fear to an unlikely friendship, a budding photographer has captured the highs and lows of life in a rural border town during the SA-Victoria border closure.

A child says goodbye to Sergeant Andrew Skein during his last shift at the Frances checkpoint during the SA-Victoria border closure. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

Living just a couple of hundred metres over the Victorian border, the past few months have been tough for Georgia Shepherd and her family.

Her mum, a nurse, was forced to chose between working in Edenhope, Victoria, or Naracoorte, South Australia.

Yet, barely a week after opting to help with COVID-19 testing on the SA side of the border, she was denied an essential worker permit.

Her dad, like many farmers, was unable to shear sheep on time as shearers were halted at the border.

A farmer at the Frances checkpoint during the SA-Victoria border closure. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

A mother holds her son close at the Frances checkpoint during the SA-Victoria border closure. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

She was unable to see her brother in Adelaide, her grandparents in Queensland and, when her pop in Kingston SE was rushed to hospital with internal bleeding, she could not be by his side.

The 20-year-old photographer has captured the emotions of the border closure at the Frances checkpoint.

“Life for us border dwellers has been tough, to say the least,” Ms Shepherd says.

“Living only 500m away from the border line when it shut meant that we were no longer able to collect the mail, get fuel, go to work and school or see our families.

“We go to Frances for everything as it is only a minute away, but when the border shut we had to drive an hour and a half to Horsham.”

Once the cross-border bubble was created, Ms Shepherd said much of the small community was afraid to enter SA.

Children play at the Frances checkpoint during the SA-Victoria border closure. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

Sergeant Andrew Skein says goodbye to children at the Frances checkpoint during the SA-Victoria border closure. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

“The treatment we received from a lot of SA residents was really upsetting and scary,” she says.

“On her way home from a nine-hour shift of COVID testing, my Mum was a victim of an elderly gentleman stopping and abusing her for being a Victorian ‘evading police’ in SA, regardless of her just doing her part as an essential worker.”

But Ms Shepherd says there has been an unexpected highlight – the regular presence of SA police officers Senior Sergeant First Class Neil Hodgson and Sergeant Andrew Skein at the Frances checkpoint.

“They have always been a kind face when your day mightn’t be going so well,” she says.

“I had a lot more to do with Andrew when I passed through and his warm smile always eased the anxiety I would get going through the border, scared that they would turn me away because my reason for crossing wasn’t good enough.

“He would always offer me some sound advice, and if I was still hoping to move to the city that I could call him if I ever needed anything, no matter how small.

Photographer Georgia Rose with Sergeant Andrew Skein and First Class Neil Hodgson at the Frances border checkpoint.

Teenagers give Sergeant Andrew Skein, who has been manning the Frances border checkpoint gifts. Picture: Georgia Rose Photography

“This really touched me because he was a man that barely knew me and cared so much about us. He really is an amazing policeman and has restored my faith in the police.”

Ms Shepherd said local children were initially petrified by the police presence but that quickly changed.

Both officers had left their families in July to staff the checkpoint and, as their time on the border came to a close, the community was sad to see them go, presenting them with handmade cards and gifts.

“The two girls I babysit, who are two and four, are devastated their two favourite policemen are no longer going to greet them at the border,” Ms Shepherd says.

“By their last day, every family from our community had gone to say ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’ to the dynamic duo, showing just how big a positive impact they had on everyone, young and old.

“We are all looking forward to their return next year with their families, to catch a game of footy and explore the hidden gems that they were not able to experience due to the border restrictions.”