Peter Rossi wins national photography prize for creative portrait of navy veteran Fred Piercy

A 97-year-old veteran's Antarctic adventures and a diving instructor's spirit have earned a Cairns photographer national recognition. Here’s how.

Cairns photographer Peter Rossi has been awarded first place in the creative open category of the 2025 Australian Photographic Prize for his portrait of 97-year-old navy veteran Fred Piercy. Picture: Brendan Radke

What do a 97-year-old navy veteran and a diving instructor have in common?

Both are the subject of two award-winning photographs by Cairns photographer Peter Rossi.

Mr Rossi, who won first and second place in the recent Australian Photographic Prize creative open category, said he was honoured to have told the story of two inspiring locals – Fred Piercy and Des Williams.

“(My) first place was the storytelling image around the life of 97-year-old local, Fred Piercy,

in his own navy hat and holding a cupboard full of objects that illustrate some aspects of his life,” Mr Rossi said.

A portrait of 97-year-old navy veteran Fred Piercy (pictured) has landed Cairns photographer Peter Rossi first place in the creative open category of the 2025 Australian Photographic Prize. Picture: Brendan Radke

The photograph of 97-year-old navy veteran Fried Piercy that won Cairns photographer Peter Rossi first place in the Australian Photographic Price creative open category. Picture: Peter Rossi

“We wanted a way of telling his story without words and he’d done so much that I thought actual objects would (help) tell the story … it was a balance between telling the complete story and telling a story that’s easily read.”

The pair met after Mr Piercy’s daughter suggested he pose for a photo, while in a photography session with Mr Rossi and his wife Charmaine.
“When she told us about him … he’d been in the navy, he used to be a butcher, he parachutes – I thought, there’s a photo there, and we did a special sitting just for Fred, and got him to bring along all these different little bits and pieces from his life to help tell his story,” he said.

The objects were photographed and shrunk down, including a sailor’s doll which belonged to Mr Rossi’s late mother and a vintage cabinet owned by Ms Rossi.

“We got Fred to a shoebox for the photo, because the cabinet was big and heavy, then we shrunk it down, and I carefully rubbed the edges out so it looks like he was holding it,” he said.

“The sailor represents him walking through his life, with photos of him and his wife, his mother, his guitar and some cricket gear …”

Cairns photographer Peter Rossi has been awarded first place in the creative open category of the 2025 Australian Photographic Prize for his portrait of 97-year-old navy veteran Fred Piercy. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Piercy, who sat for the photo last year, was kitted out in a borrowed Australian navy uniform and his own navy cap from time served on the HMAS Labuan, where he worked as a lead stoker in the engine room.

“(I) went to Antarctica in 1947 I think. We took the first lot of scientists down there, brought them back and took the next lot down, and brought the others back,” Mr Piercy said.

“The biggest thing of that trip to me was going to the old French whaling base Kerguelen … we used to anchor every night at Heard Island … put everything ashore and then go to sea at night … because it was rough to stop on shore. It was quite an experience.”

After discharging from a six-year service, Mr Piercy went on to work in saw mills, as a butcher and later as a train driver.

Mr Rossi’s second-place piece titled ‘The Optimist’ was a montage of local diving instructor Des Williams.

“My intention was to show an inkling of his personality. He’s not sure if he is going to fly or swim, but he’ll have a go at anything,” Mr Rossi said.

Originally published as Peter Rossi wins national photography prize for creative portrait of navy veteran Fred Piercy