The photo that represents resilience after the flames

There is one picture in this issue that tells two stories: one of farming innovation, and a second about resilience and community support through the recent bushfire crisis.

Mitta Mitta Brewing Company owners Alec Pennington,Chris Rowe, Jen and Tim Cabelka. Picture: Zoe Phillips

MY FAVOURITE picture in this issue is the four friends smiling in bines of lush green hops on Pages 16 and 17. Although the shot of Elle Moyle and her Kelpie, Red, on Page 8 does give it a run for its money, here’s why I love the hops.

This picture, of Tim and Jen Cabelka, Chris Rowe and Alec Pennington, tells two important stories. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The couples in the picture look happy to be where they are, but two months ago, they probably were feeling completely unsafe on their small Alpine property.

Tim Cabelka, his wife, Jen, and their friends Alec Pennington and Chris Rowe run a craft brewery at Mitta Mitta, in Victoria’s stunning Alpine region. The fires that engulfed eastern Victoria two months ago burned terrifyingly close to them. Our photographer was primed to take pictures on their farm at the start of January, but as the crisis unfolded, it became clear it wasn’t safe to make the journey.

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Their lives at that time must have been stressful enough without photoshoots and a small crop of ripening hops to worry about. We watched on social media as they opened their brewery doors to locals most afternoons. Their bar was a place people could go to regroup and de-stress, if just for the length of one pint. On a few days, they closed with short notice. Reading these posts from afar, we worried, imagining that conditions must have become a lot worse.

The same events played out in towns across the North East and East Gippsland that month – brave local people opening their doors to others, finding positives in a horrible situation, and carrying on for the sake of their community.

When the fires were contained, and Tim got in touch to say their land, business and families were all OK, it was with great relief and triumph that we rescheduled the shoot. Finding beautiful hops, nearly ripe, still on the bines was a bonus.