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People’s Choice Gallery
These are their stories.
A collection of photographs submitted to the photographic exhibition to tell the stories of individuals living with serious personal injury.
Voting has now closed.
GALLERY
Click on the title of each photograph to view the photograph and artist statement.
There are a total of 26 entries.
Sailing on Kayle: winds of joy Photographer and Entrant: Scott Priestley
Artist Statement:
I volunteer for Sailability Lake Macquarie. I was asked to join them to take the boat they own (Kayle) which is generally moored in Sydney out off Newcastle Harbour. They race it to Hobart annually with an entirely disabled crew and a group of disabled children. I do enjoy being a volunteer to let me give back to those less fortunate than me!
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Celebration by Reward Photographer and Entrant: Gillian Mullery
Artist Statement:
This athlete plays sport without the use of both legs, is missing his left wrist and his right four fingers. Living life supported by sport focussed by his abilities.
The subject of this photograph is living with multiple limb amputations.
First flight: Project wheels to the sky Photographer: Adrian Levi; Entrant: Jonas Luetke
Artist Statement:
Set goals and never give up on your dreams no matter what. Project wheels to the sky. Taking back my space among the clouds after becoming a C6/7 Quadriplegic. The sky doesn’t discriminate.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
First launch: Project wheels to the sky Photographer: Adrian Levi; Entrant: Jonas Luetke
Artist Statement:
Set goals and never give up on your dreams no matter what. Project wheels to the sky. Taking back my space among the clouds after becoming a C6/7 Quadriplegic. The sky doesn’t discriminate.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Pre launch: Project wheels to the sky Photographer: Adrian Levi; Entrant: Jonas Luetke
Artist Statement:
Set goals and never give up on your dreams no matter what. Project wheels to the sky. Taking back my space among the clouds after becoming a C6/7 Quadriplegic. The sky doesn’t discriminate.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Out and about Photographer: Marian Simmons; Entrant: Luke Simmons
Artist Statement:
With the use of a power chair with 4×4 features this fellow who has a C5/6 Spinal Cord injury can get into a position to take beautiful photographs in the natural settings. The camera is mounted to his chair and the screen is touch screen. It is wonderful to be able to learn new things and adapt to be able to use them.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Country Living (1) Photographer and entrant: Rhianna Thornton
Artist Statement:
At the time of my brother’s car accident he was not expected to survive. This resulted in a Level C6 Spinal Cord injury. He returned home to our family’s cattle property. His girlfriend moved to the farm and with the support of his family and girlfriend he is doing daily farm activities.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Country Living (2) Photographer and Entrant: Rhianna Thornton
Artist Statement:
At the time of my brother’s car accident he was not expected to survive. This resulted in a Level C6 Spinal Cord injury. He returned home to our family’s cattle property. His girlfriend moved to the farm and with the support of his family and girlfriend he is doing daily farm activities.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Country Living (3) Photographer and Entrant: Rhianna Thornton
Artist Statement:
At the time of my brother’s car accident he was not expected to survive. This resulted in a Level C6 Spinal Cord injury. He returned home to our family’s cattle property. His girlfriend moved to the farm and with the support of his family and girlfriend he is doing daily farm activities.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Skating over it Photographer and entrant: James Southam
Artist Statement:
This image displays two friends doing what they love, skating together. The boy on the ground suffered traumatic brain injury in a car crash last year and spent 4 weeks in a coma over Christmas. He has had a long recovery but his friends have been with him the whole way. The young man is still not fully recovered to where he can skate like he used to, but he is working every day to get back on the board. He loves skating so much that even though he might not be able to ride like he used to, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and getting involved in any way possible. The boy on the skateboard is his best friend who visited him almost every day in hospital.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
Perseverance Photographer: Todd Sills; Entrant: Rohan Sills
Artist Statement:
Daily exercise is fundamental for sustaining a healthy lifestyle.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
The sky is the limit (1) Photographer: Sara Apalais; Entrant: Rohan Sills
Artist Statement:
Never let anything stop you from achieving your dreams.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
The sky is the limit (2) Photographer: Sara Apalais; Entrant: Rohan Sills
Artist Statement:
Never let anything stop you from achieving your dreams.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Kintsugi - The New Me Photographer and Entrant: Shane Daley
Artist Statement:
Kintsugi – When a bowl is broken in Japan, it is put back together with the cracks being filled with gold, creating a beautiful lining. This is to emphasise the beauty in what was once broken. They believe that when something suffered damage and has a history it makes it more beautiful. It is up to us to choose to paint our struggles with gold and make it beautiful. You are not broken beyond repair. You can wear your scars proudly as if to say look at what I have been through. It has made me who I am today. My severe traumatic brain injury included shattered skull and facial bone fractures and broken neck. Every day for me now, is learning how to paint those cracks gold. This image represents the true amount of gold I need to use on an everyday basis to start filling not just the physical but also the emotional cracks that are now a part of The New Me.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
Freedom Photographer and Entrant: Miguel Cayari
Artist Statement:
This photograph is a self portrait I took using a tripod. I suffered from a traumatic brain injury last December and was hospitalised for 2 months. Now I am beginning to get back to doing the activities that I used to enjoy before my accident. This photo shows me opening the door and leaving the house with my skateboard, as now I have my freedom again. Even though my legs are still very weak, it just feels good to be back on the board which helps me relieve my stress.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
Happy snap Photographer and Entrant: Miguel Cayari
Artist Statement:
This photograph is a self portrait I took myself. I suffered from a traumatic brain injury last December and was hospitalised for 2 months. Now I am beginning to get back to doing the activities I used to enjoy before my accident. In this photo I am holding a camera and smiling at the camera as photography is one of the fun hobbies I can do again.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
Smiles on wheels Photographer and Entrant: Miguel Cayari
Artist Statement:
This photograph is a photo I took myself using a tripod. Last December I suffered from a traumatic brain injury and was hospitalised for 2 months. Now I am beginning to get back to doing the activities that I used to enjoy before my accident. In this photo I am rolling on a skateboard, which is my favourite hobby to do. Despite the fact that my legs are still very weak, it just feels good to be back on the board.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
You find beauty in being broken Photographer: Glen Wimberley; Entrant: Jonathan Tang
Artist Statement:
Five years ago, an accident that changed my life forever. I had a C5 incomplete SCI. At first athletics was just for fun; once a week at the track. But then I couldn’t stop thinking about it, I wanted more. This was the last photo before moving to Canberra.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Transfer process from wheelchair to ICARE machine for the severely injured individual Photographer and Entrant: Scott Painter
Artist Statement:
I had a traumatic brain injury over 23 years ago leaving me with mental and physical disabilities confining me to a wheelchair 24/7. The new “wings wellness centre” has a new ICARE machine that allows me to stand for 30 minutes a day allowing me to get out of my wheelchair. This photo shows my setup process from wheelchair to standing / walking on the “ICARE” machine which I love. This is my life and “a day in the life of a seriously injured individual”.
The subject of this photograph is living with a traumatic brain injury.
Yin and Yang Photographer and Entrant: Sharyn Bartels-Waller
Artist Statement:
Life with quadriplegia presents its own inherent challenges, but adding toddler twins into the mix makes for some very interesting days! They have a unique ability to make the bad days good and the good days great. Sure, there are times that being a quadriplegic greatly impedes the parental responsibilities, but when that happens, it’s all about adapting to overcome. If we go out around the block and all they want to do is get out of the stroller and be free, do we just give up and go home? No! Adapt and overcome, make it fun, everybody’s happy – and I think that’s pretty positive!
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Is regenerating the spinal cord possible? When scientists and great advocates work together anything may be possible. Photographer and Entrant: Todd Shelper
Artist Statement:
At the age of 19, this promising sportsman found himself a C2 ventilated quadriplegic on a life support machine. This inspirational advocate now focuses on transforming lives through contribution to the discovery of a cure for paralysis at Griffith University. He believes that everything is possible.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
Ekka circa 2016 Photographer and Entrant: Jonathan Tang
Artist Statement:
Living life again was difficult after a spinal cord injury. There were so many barriers – transport, accessibility, feasibility, you name it. But in the end it was all in my head. Taking the first step was the hardest, then it became easier. Life changed when I became brave.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent spinal cord injury.
The joy of sportsmanship Photographer and Entrant: Gillian Mullery
Artist Statement:
This sports person has lost upper body and strength. Based on his disability he requires bench tests, functional skills tests and trains quite regularly.
The subject of this photograph is living with a permanent injury to the brachial plexus.
Flying Photographer and Entrant: Matthew Ames
Artist Statement:
Despite having significant limitations in my day-to-day life, it is important to focus on those things that I can do, not on those that I can’t. By continuously focusing on this, I have been able to overcome many barriers and achieve things that I didn’t think would be possible. I am extremely lucky that my wife has the same outlook, so on my birthday last year I was surprised with an indoor skydiving experience as my present. Although at first sceptical about my ability to complete the activity, I was surrounded by many with the can-do attitude and managed to be the first person to indoor skydive at the facility out of a wheelchair (and without any arms or legs!).
The subject of this photograph is living with multiple limb amputations.
Hands Photographer and Entrant: Matthew Ames
Artist Statement:
This photo was taken the day that I received bilateral prosthetic hands. It represented the first time I could interact with my family with my hands and shows the connection that we all have with each other.
The subject of this photograph is living with multiple limb amputations.
On the move Photographer and Entrant: Matthew Ames
Artist Statement:
With a young family, it is important to continue to find opportunities for us to do things as a family. Although my mobility is sometimes difficult, there are still many things that we are able to do,and public infrastructure with good access is critical to achieving this. This photo was taken on a family trip to Sydney – we were able to get out and about using the train system due to its accessibility. This photo also represents my role as a father as always looking out for my kids.
The subject of this photograph is living with multiple limb amputations.
