Winners announced for the 2022 Shoalhaven Eucalypt Photo Competition

Image above: Tracy Staples - Kookaburra at Beach St Reserve, Huskisson

Captivating images of flowering gums, towering trunks and burnt barks are among the entries in the 2022 Shoalhaven Eucalypt Photo Competition. A total of 122 photo entries were submitted by 76 entrants from around the local area, including a budding photographer of just six years old.  

The winning entry was submitted by Alex Upitis. Alex’s spectacular photo features towering eucalypts fringing a misty cliff in beautiful Kangaroo Valley. Second place was awarded to Dave Macquart, whose Instagram photo of ‘Thompson’s Point maculata’ beautifully captured its spotted trunk. Matt Jeffrey took home third place with his stunning Instagram photo of the sun streaking through eucalypts on Gerroa Road, Seven Mile Beach.   

Multiple photos of ‘Big Spotty’ in Termeil were also submitted. Over 70 metres high and thought to be approximately 250 years old, ‘Big Spotty’ proves to be a well-known and well-loved local tree.  

In its inaugural year, the Shoalhaven Eucalypt Competition was held to celebrate National Eucalypt Day (23 March). The national day helps to increase awareness and appreciation of these iconic Australian trees and their importance to the natural environment.  

Eucalypt native forests are essential for the conservation of Australia's rich biodiversity, by providing vital habitat for forest-dwelling or forest-dependent species of flora and fauna. They have a strong symbology for Aboriginal people, given their historical use for their bark, wood and trees for practical and emblematic purposes.  

Eucalypt trees also play a crucial role in carbon abatement. Given that they are endemic, they can grow in a wide range of environments and can store carbon quickly. They also continue to store large amounts of carbon throughout their lifetime. 

The winner of the photo competition was awarded a $250 gift voucher from Holiday Haven whilst second prize took home a $50 voucher from a local native plant nursery. All three winners received a grafted dwarf flowering gum tree that they can plant in their gardens. 

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley led the judging panel for the competition and was blown away by the quality and creativity of the submissions.   

“I want to congratulate all the entrants on their spectacular works that capture the beauty of our local landscapes so well and highlight the importance of eucalypt trees in the Shoalhaven. I hope everyone will enjoy viewing them as much as I have,” Mayor Findley said.  

To view the full photo exhibition of entries, visit https://bit.ly/3xlULCa.