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A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. In their coveralls and work boots, Paul and Hayley Denman play next to a paddock of smouldering cane that their father, contract harvester Geoff, and uncle Stuart will harvest the following morning. They’re too young to appreciate the economic importance of the sugar industry, but there’s a good chance that, like many Mackay youngsters, they’ll work in it when they’re older. Photo by Paul Nevin
1/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. In their coveralls and work boots, Paul and Hayley Denman play next to a paddock of smouldering cane that their father, contract harvester Geoff, and uncle Stuart will harvest the following morning. They’re too young to appreciate the economic importance of the sugar industry, but there’s a good chance that, like many Mackay youngsters, they’ll work in it when they’re older. Photo by Paul Nevin
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Umbakumba teenager Lance Mamarika and his mates Nilton Wanambi and Kevin Mamarika volunteered to carry Ed Stokes’s camera bag during an excursion along the island’s northern coast. Umbakumba, Groote’s second largest community (pop. 300), was established by Fred Gray, a former sea-cucumber fisherman, after Qantas started using nearby Port Langdon as a flying boat base in 1938. Photo by Edward Stokes
2/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Umbakumba teenager Lance Mamarika and his mates Nilton Wanambi and Kevin Mamarika volunteered to carry Ed Stokes’s camera bag during an excursion along the island’s northern coast. Umbakumba, Groote’s second largest community (pop. 300), was established by Fred Gray, a former sea-cucumber fisherman, after Qantas started using nearby Port Langdon as a flying boat base in 1938. Photo by Edward Stokes
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. These Coogee Nippers learn the skills needed to brave the ocean and read its many and ever-changing conditions – the key reasons parents enrol their children from an early age. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
3/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. These Coogee Nippers learn the skills needed to brave the ocean and read its many and ever-changing conditions – the key reasons parents enrol their children from an early age. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Despite its distance from the ocean, Jindabyne’s 60-odd Yabbies train in the dam’s cool, fresh waters. They are linked to Tathra on the NSW south coast and visit to compete in surf carnivals a couple of times a year. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
4/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Despite its distance from the ocean, Jindabyne’s 60-odd Yabbies train in the dam’s cool, fresh waters. They are linked to Tathra on the NSW south coast and visit to compete in surf carnivals a couple of times a year. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Faole Bokoi is one of only three remaining ‘Fuzzy Wuzzies’ still living along the Track. During World War II, Faole and as many as 3000 local young men ferried supplies and ammunition to the front for the Australians. The also stretchered back the wounded, a task performed with such compassion they became known as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. Photo by James McCormack
5/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Faole Bokoi is one of only three remaining ‘Fuzzy Wuzzies’ still living along the Track. During World War II, Faole and as many as 3000 local young men ferried supplies and ammunition to the front for the Australians. The also stretchered back the wounded, a task performed with such compassion they became known as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. Photo by James McCormack
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. In a shimmering sea, Gula Lalara stalks fish as countless generations have done before him. Behind him, his wife Geraldine pulls their outboard runabout, a symbol of the new world that is drawing the Eylandters away from their timeless existence. Photo by Edward Stokes.
6/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. In a shimmering sea, Gula Lalara stalks fish as countless generations have done before him. Behind him, his wife Geraldine pulls their outboard runabout, a symbol of the new world that is drawing the Eylandters away from their timeless existence. Photo by Edward Stokes.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Two days from port in Adelaide, the 22.8m fishing vessel Diana ploughs through a light Southern Ocean swell, on course for the seamounts of the Great Australian Bight. Photo by Dean Saffron.
7/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Two days from port in Adelaide, the 22.8m fishing vessel Diana ploughs through a light Southern Ocean swell, on course for the seamounts of the Great Australian Bight. Photo by Dean Saffron.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Up to 7500 baited hooks, attached to longlines, get shot out and hauled back in each day. Every one of them has to be straightened or replaced before the next run. Brent ‘Lakey’ Carney is hard at work to make sure the hooks are ready to go. Photo by Dean Saffron.
8/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Up to 7500 baited hooks, attached to longlines, get shot out and hauled back in each day. Every one of them has to be straightened or replaced before the next run. Brent ‘Lakey’ Carney is hard at work to make sure the hooks are ready to go. Photo by Dean Saffron.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Photo by Michael Amendolia Milton 93 and Betty 89 Edwards have an early 6am swim in the Currumbin Estuary. They have been married for 71 years, have 11 children 4 adopted 40 Grand children 57 great grand children. Quote from Betty ...when I got married to Milton a vegetarian 71 years ago my family in Sydney gave me 6 months to live..... Her family were butchers and growing up she ate meat three meals a day. It was a different time of course but mum and dad died when they were 47 and 50..... Milton retired from his son’s Boiler makers business at 84 Betty retired at 60. Betty said my philosophy is love God and love other people....
9/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Photo by Michael Amendolia Milton 93 and Betty 89 Edwards have an early 6am swim in the Currumbin Estuary. They have been married for 71 years, have 11 children 4 adopted 40 Grand children 57 great grand children. Quote from Betty ...when I got married to Milton a vegetarian 71 years ago my family in Sydney gave me 6 months to live..... Her family were butchers and growing up she ate meat three meals a day. It was a different time of course but mum and dad died when they were 47 and 50..... Milton retired from his son’s Boiler makers business at 84 Betty retired at 60. Betty said my philosophy is love God and love other people....
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The Purple Spider dancers, Darnley Island, Torres Strait. Photo by Cathy Finch
10/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The Purple Spider dancers, Darnley Island, Torres Strait. Photo by Cathy Finch
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The people of the Tanami Sophie and Callum Parbury perch on a termite mound on 4200sq.km Tanami Downs station. Photo by Bill Bachman.
11/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The people of the Tanami Sophie and Callum Parbury perch on a termite mound on 4200sq.km Tanami Downs station. Photo by Bill Bachman.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Rver stalwart. Kevin Hutchinson, the Port of Echuca’s senior shipwright. He has been steaming and bending red gum planks around historic paddle-steamer frames for more than 40 years. Photo by Randy Larcombe.
12/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Rver stalwart. Kevin Hutchinson, the Port of Echuca’s senior shipwright. He has been steaming and bending red gum planks around historic paddle-steamer frames for more than 40 years. Photo by Randy Larcombe.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Woman with three baby quolls on her arm. Photo by Mitch Reardon
13/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Woman with three baby quolls on her arm. Photo by Mitch Reardon
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Champion kelpie sheepdog Fella dominates the ewes and lambs at Bel-Air station near Nyngan in NSW. Photo by Paul Raffaele.
14/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Champion kelpie sheepdog Fella dominates the ewes and lambs at Bel-Air station near Nyngan in NSW. Photo by Paul Raffaele.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. John Havilah and Robert Virgona (at left) enjoy the early morning surf at Noosa Heads on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The state's south-east attracts retirees from the rest of the nation for its climate, beaches and more affordable real estate. Photo by Dean Saffron.
15/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. John Havilah and Robert Virgona (at left) enjoy the early morning surf at Noosa Heads on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The state's south-east attracts retirees from the rest of the nation for its climate, beaches and more affordable real estate. Photo by Dean Saffron.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Four year old Bindi-Lee looks through a magnifying glass Photo by Bill Bachman
16/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Four year old Bindi-Lee looks through a magnifying glass Photo by Bill Bachman
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The people of the Tanami The face of Carol Green Napangardi painted in the colours of her local footy team at Lajamanu on the Tanami Road. Photo by Bill Bachman
17/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. The people of the Tanami The face of Carol Green Napangardi painted in the colours of her local footy team at Lajamanu on the Tanami Road. Photo by Bill Bachman
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. On a day charged with emotion, a young digger comforts WWII veteran Ossie Ostara, who missed his starting point for Sydney’s Anzac Day march. Photo by David Mariuz.
18/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. On a day charged with emotion, a young digger comforts WWII veteran Ossie Ostara, who missed his starting point for Sydney’s Anzac Day march. Photo by David Mariuz.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Despite its distance from the ocean, Jindabyne’s 60-odd Yabbies train in the dam’s cool, fresh waters. They are linked to Tathra on the NSW south coast and visit to compete in surf carnivals a couple of times a year. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
19/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Despite its distance from the ocean, Jindabyne’s 60-odd Yabbies train in the dam’s cool, fresh waters. They are linked to Tathra on the NSW south coast and visit to compete in surf carnivals a couple of times a year. Photo by Frances Mocnik.
A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Gill Wheadon and Bella, Calcutta Outstation, Mt Lyndhurst, Strzelecki Track, South Australia Photo by Bill Bachman
20/20A Portrait of Australia: The best stories from 30 years of Australian Geographic. Gill Wheadon and Bella, Calcutta Outstation, Mt Lyndhurst, Strzelecki Track, South Australia Photo by Bill Bachman
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