Alice Springs life from behind longtime Centralian Advocate photographer Carmel Sears’ lens

FROM photographing Queen Elizabeth to the Pope, the 15 years Carmel Sears spent as the Centralian Advocate’s photographer is stuff of legend.

Carmel Sears, who was a photographer with the Centralian Advocate for 15 years, now owns the Central Second Hand Shop in Alice Springs. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

FORMER Centralian Advocate photographer Carmel Sears is stuff of legend.

While many who worked with her would describe her as a ‘feminist’, Ms Sears quickly dismissed the claim.

“I just always did what I wanted,” she said.

As she recalled stories from her 15-year tenure as the newspaper’s senior photographer, it was easy to see why many would describe her as such.

In an era when sexism was rampant, and women were still fighting for basic rights — Ms Sears stood her ground with the Centralian Advocate and News Ltd’s most powerful and formidable male figures.

She also played a role in moulding some of the organisation’s current powerful leaders, like The NT News and Centralian Advocate general manager Greg Thomson.

“When Carmel was photographer it was almost like she was the mayor of Alice Springs,” Mr Thomson said.

“She knew every single person in town — everyone knew her, and she was a tremendous representative of the paper.

Carmel with top News Ltd photographer Dave Fullagah. PICTURE: Carmel Sears

“She can also be proud of a long list of photographers she helped train and develop, many of whom have gone on to very long careers in News.”

Mr Thomson described her as an independent thinker, who was no nonsense, and could always be relied on to get the job done.

“Carmel never took no for an answer,” he said. “She was a great role model for everyone in the newsroom, from journalists to photographers — even sales staff.”

It was the Azaria Chamberlain case that first inspired Ms Sears to approach the Centralian Advocate’s then-editor Bob Watts about becoming a staff photographer.

Ms Sears had been working as a lab technician at a photo studio in the old Stuart Arms Hotel when the world’s media descended on Alice Springs to report on the case. With only two proper darkrooms in town — the studio and the Centralian Advocate’s.

“I used to get the jump on them (international press) a lot,” Ms Sears remembered.

“They’d come to town and if they were respectful and treated us as an equal, I’d help them. If they were arrogant, they got nothing.”

Mr Watt was quick to offer her a position working alongside photographer Phil Duncan, who left not long after.

“It was an interesting time in Alice Springs — things were happening,” Ms Sears said.

“There was a tourism boom, lots of money around. Even Rupert (Murdoch) was letting us hire helicopters and planes.

“Our footprint was also much bigger, we were going out to the Western Australia and Queensland borders for stories.”

Steve Menzies, Carmel Sears and Paul Urban pose while having a drink. PICTURE: Carmel Sears

Ms Sears said the newsroom was “hectic”, and the pressure of the deadlines were “crazy”.

As the sole photographer for many years, Ms Sears found herself doing everything from news, socials, real estate to sport.

“I had a diary and people would come in, write jobs in and there’d be 19 jobs and just me,” she said.

“A few years later we got half a person — a part timer.”

One thing Ms Sears never considered was relocating to Darwin to work at The NT News.

“I had no desire to live in Darwin,” she said.

“A few of the blokes would say ‘when are you going to move on Carmel? When are you going to go have a baby’?”

However, one job she did consider leaving for was as an overseas press photographer.

“But I thought — why go overseas when the world comes to me? The world passes through Alice Springs so why leave?”

A team photo with Steve Menzies, current NT News and Centralian Advocate manager Greg Thomson, and NT News reporter Gary Shipway in the front row. PICTURE: Carmel Sears

During her tenure, Ms Sears got to photograph some of the world’s biggest names — everyone from the Pope, to Margaret Thatcher.

The last job she had was photographing Queen Elizabeth in Todd Mall, which featured in her last paper on Friday March 31, 2000.

But what inspired Ms Sears to leave in the end?

“I’d had my eye on this second-hand store for years and when it became available, I jumped at the opportunity,” she said.

“I love the feel of both worlds, as my shop is like a busy newsroom with lots of interesting people constantly passing through — all with a story to tell. I feel fortunate to have had both. Alice Springs has been good to me.”