Anne Ponsonby: Ulverstone photographer ‘larger than life’

The best friend of more than 50 years of a “larger than life” Tasmanian photographer adored within the local music industry says she’s been gutted by the loss of her “bestie” on Friday.

A beloved Tasmanian rock and nature photographer is still “still rocking and a rolling” in the next life, after she died on Friday aged 57.

Ulverstone woman Anne Ponsonby, “was a likeable, lovely, sometimes enchanting person who not only took amazing photos of animals, landscapes and people, but also was well known to many as a great music photographer,” said rock band Roadkill frontman Neil Wilson.

“Anne was also a big supporter of original rock music in Tasmania, and you would see her at not just local band gigs, but also touring acts from the mainland.

“Many of us will miss that smile, that sense of humour and we know she’s still rocking and a rolling.”

Best friend of more than 50 years, Andrea O’Neill, an Ulverstone real estate agent, told the Mercury she had had a “s*** week” since learning of her friend’s passing in the aftermath of a “massive heart attack”.

Anne Ponsonby. Picture: Through the Lens with Angela Nicolle

Ms Ponsonby was a “larger than life” character who had “no idea how many people really cared about her”, Ms O’Neill said.

Ms Ponsonby “had quite a tragic life in a lot of ways” – she was a single mother of two sons, one of whom lives with cerebral palsy, her father passed away of Covid in 2020 and there was never enough money to go around – but she never let it dim her light.

“She never realised how good she was (at photography),” which she took up more than a decade ago after a career in the mines, Ms O’Neill said.

“Her nature photos were amazing. She had a spot out at the boat ramp on the Forth River between the pub and the highway, every day, 2.30–pm, she’d go out and take photos.

“But she had to be home by 4.30pm to watch Bold and the Beautiful.

“She never knew how clever she was.”

Anne Ponsonby picture of 'Breathe - The Sound of Pink Floyd' at Burnie Arts & Function Centre, April 16, 2021. Picture: Anne Ponsonby

Ms Ponsonby lived for her children Joey and Matthew, Ms O’Neill said.

Joey, who lives with cerebral palsy, and her were “co-dependent” on each other, while Ms Ponsonby was the proudest mum in the world over Matthew’s career in the army.

“The main people in her life were her kids and her dad, and she adored her ex-partner Scott,” Ms O’Neill said.

Forth Pub, where Ms Ponsonby was resident photographer, took to social media to pay tribute to its regular patron.

Andrea O'Neill and Anne Ponsonby. Picture: Through the Lens with Angela Nicolle

“This one really hurts. The pub has lost a very loyal and dear friend,” they said.

“If you were Anne’s friend, she would fight for you and she would back you no matter what.

“Anne Ponsonby, you loved our little pub as we loved you.

“Rest easy Anne, keep taking those pics.”