‘Living With The River’ Competition

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) invites you to capture an image that tells us what ‘Living with the River’ looks like for you.

This competition celebrates all aspects of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River – as a place for recreation, a source of livelihood, a place of beauty and a force of nature and a place of cultural significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It also wreaks havoc through the devastating force of floods. We’re thrilled that local artist Blak Douglas has lent his support to our photo competition. Born Adam Douglas Hill, Blak 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 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,” Douglas 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.”

RA are seeking to encourage the creative community to get involved in the Living with the River photo competition 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.

This competition celebrates the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and highlights the need to be aware of these risks. Participants are encouraged to submit photographs reflecting the diverse ways in which the river impacts daily life, culture, and the environment. 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.