The Nepean (top) and (below) Hawkesbury Rivers. Photos by Noel Rowsell
THE NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has launched its inaugural ‘Living with the River’ photo competition to celebrate the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and illustrate some of the risks for communities living on a floodplain.
The Living with the River photo competition highlights the resilience and adaptability of the Hawkesbury-Nepean community. Participants are encouraged to submit photographs reflecting the diverse ways in which the river impacts daily life, culture, and the environment.
Local artist and ambassador of the competition is Archibald Prize-winning artist, #Blak Douglas, who is known for his powerful depictions of Indigenous culture and environmental themes. He also grew up in Penrith and has a deep connection to the Hawkesbury-Nepean.
The Living with the River photo competition is running alongside the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) development, to reduce flood risk in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, the first DAP in the state. As part of this work, the images will showcase the river through the eyes of those living on the floodplain.
So far, the RA has received more than 130 photo entries with the closing date on February 2, 2025.
How to enter: Participants submit their entries through the NSW Reconstruction Authority website. For more information and the terms and conditions please visit nsw.gov.au/living-with-the-river
Competition Details: Entry Deadline: 2 February 2025. Prize Pool valued at $5,000 across 5 categories: Primary School, High School, Open, AI and Semi-Professional including a Special Prize – a half-day photography workshop for the winning secondary school, valued at $2,200.
To find out more about the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley DAP and share your thoughts on flood risk reduction, visit the Have Your Say page
#Blak Douglas, born Adam Douglas Hill, is a celebrated artist and descendant of the Dhungatti Nation (Kempsey, NSW). His work often explores themes of social justice, indigenous identity and environmental conservation. Douglas has received numerous awards and his art is exhibited in galleries across Australia and internationally. In 2022, Douglas won the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Karla Dickens in the Lismore floods.
Blak said the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, also known as the Dyarubbin, is a place for recreation, a source of livelihood, a natural wonder, and is culturally significant to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Our rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, providing us with water, food, and a place to be creative and connect with nature,” he said. “Young, old – whoever you are, zoom in and capture everything. I encourage you to participate and share your perspectives on how we live with and cherish the Dyarubbin.”
