Quoll Headquarters’ annual open day saw smaller crowds this year, but it was still a rewarding experience as I volunteered to photograph the event and made the early drive out to Tenterfield. With new areas now open and ongoing conservation work on display, it was great to see the team’s progress—and I’m hopeful for a future collaboration on educational video projects.

Covering the Campus to City Canter pushed me well outside my comfort zone, trading my usual work for fast-paced event photography along the 5km route from SportUNE to Civic Park. Despite my best efforts (and literally racing the winner), I still missed the key shot—but it was a fun, worthwhile experience, and I’m keen to give it another crack next year.

Working in event coverage often leads to experiences I wouldn’t normally seek out, like photographing Minerama in Glen Innes. What started as a simple media job turned into several hours of conversations, photos, and learning about the craft behind gemstones. I left with a heap of images and a newfound respect for the artisans who make it all possible.

Just weeks into the new year, I found myself photographing something completely outside my usual wheelhouse at the Glen Innes Cup. Between the blistering high-country sun, huge crowds, and plenty of candid moments, it turned into a surprisingly fun day of people-watching, problem-solving, and making images I’m genuinely happy with.

Glen Innes Council invited me to cover the annual Christmas in the Highlands event, marking my first time attending and celebrating the festive season in the high country. This year included a light festival component, and it was especially exciting to see my short film Fly Away Home projected as part of the program. Despite the large, spread-out crowd making it a demanding solo shoot, it was an exhausting but fantastic experience, and I’m keen to continue working with the council in the future.