By Jed Lanyon
The winners of the Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank Branch’s ninth annual calendar competition have been revealed following a successful online exhibition.
“Unfortunately, Covid-19 has had some impact on our regular physical community engagement activities,” said Kristy Sumner, senior branch manager of the community banks.
“We are adapting like everybody else, so it was great to see the continued success of our local calendar competition after moving to the new online format”
The judges choice award, as determined by Benno Poeder and Paul Stoney, was presented to Briana McCarthy for her entry ‘Morning Sun on the Aqueduct’.
“Morning Sun on the Aqueduct showed not only the beautiful area in which we live, but a pathway to the future with brilliant sun backlighting,” the judges said. “It also showed that the way ahead can take many paths and are all ours to choose.”
Upon being delivered the news that she had won, Ms McCarthy said it was possibly the best email she had received all year.
Judges choice for the under 18’s category was awarded to Amber Hamer for her winning entry ‘Curious Cows’.
“Curious Cows by Amber Hamer was a similar shot. Some cows, all engaged with a sense of ‘well, okay… what now?’ with beautiful light behind,” the judges said.
“Both shots were technically excellent and composed beautifully. Most importantly they both told a story that engaged us, made us both think of the current situation of our wonderful community and the reasons we all live here.
“There were many, many excellent images, and it is a delight to see the work of people in our community.”
Amber was thankful for the judges selecting her photo.
“Thank you to the judges for picking my photo. I love photography and I am excited to be in the calendar,” she said.
Following the theme of ‘Upper Yarra, my place, my community’, the people’s choice award was announced as Lara Bennet with her winning entry ‘Just Look Up’.
Danny Melia took out the prize for winning staff member entry from Warburton’s Community Bank Branch.
“I’m both surprised and flattered. This is the first time that I have entered a photographic competition in all of my 71 years, and it brings a big smile to my dial.”
All of the winning entries will feature in the 2021 Community Bank Calendar – available in store at Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Banks from mid-November.
