Cotton communities shine in Click 26 photo awards

THE people, families and communities at the heart of Australia’s cotton industry have taken centre stage in this year’s Click 26 Photo Competition, with more than 160 entries capturing life across cotton-growing regions.

‘Good Middling’ by Lucy Cush was the Life in Cotton Country category winner.

The annual competition, themed ‘The people behind Australian cotton’, attracted photographs showcasing the everyday moments, landscapes and relationships that define the industry, highlighting that Australian cotton is about more than the crop itself.

Moree photographer Cam Stewart took out first place with Sunrise on Cotton Country, while fellow Moree entrant Micaela Caro was named runner-up for A Million Questions in the Field.

Other category winners included Samantha Kaarsberg of Kuluin for Two Cousins from Different Worlds (People of Cotton), Cameron Moon of St George for Precision and Pattern (Working in Cotton), Lucy Cush (entrant) and Heidi Morris (Lens of Rosie, photographer) of Moree for Good Middling (Life in Cotton Country), and Kate Lumber of Moree for Alfie (Wildcard).

Cotton Australia chief executive officer Adam Kay said the standard of entries made selecting the winners difficult.

“The calibre of entries this year was outstanding, it was a very tough decision for the judges,” Mr Kay said.

‘A Million Questions in the Field’, overall runner-up, by Micaela Caro.

“The winning photos showcase the story of Australian cotton – from Mt Isa to Coleambally.

“Congratulations to all the winners and well done to everyone who took the time to enter the competition.”

Many entries focused on the multi-generational nature of farming families, with children featured learning about agriculture, joining their parents in the paddock and experiencing their first cotton harvest.

Aimee Brock’s entry in the Working in Cotton category captured a father starting siphons alongside his sons.

“Side by side, a father and his sons set the water running across the paddock, beginning another cotton season,” she said of her photo.

“It’s a job that takes hard work and patience, but it’s also a chance to pass on the practical skills and knowledge that come from working the land. As the water starts its journey through the cotton crop, so too does the next generation’s understanding of the dedication, resilience, and commitment that farming demands.”

The competition also highlighted the resilience and dedication of cotton growers, with entrants reflecting on the challenges of farming.

Amie Hosking’s caption for her People of Cotton entry focused on her father’s commitment to the land.

“People see a farmer. I see my dad – a man who has worked the land, prayed for the crop, and carried the weight of both good seasons and bad,” she said.

‘Alfie’, wildcard winner, by Kate Lumber.

“Even on the hardest days, he continues to show up, knowing that what he does is bigger than himself and the paddocks of cotton stretching beyond the horizon.”

Some entries shared deeply personal stories, including Nathan Bell’s Wildcard submission, which drew on his experience with brain cancer.

“For me the ‘positive’ story behind this image is created because of my brain cancer journey that I am going through, and I simply find that being positive makes a big difference when you are fighting hard. Be the one that positively stands taller because the sky’s the limit, so don’t give up.”

The lighter side of cotton farming was also reflected in entries featuring working dogs and horses.

Georgia Ditchfield’s Working in Cotton submission introduced Doug, a young farm dog learning the ropes.

“Most importantly, if you don’t like swimming, don’t try to hop across irrigation channels. Fortunately, he learned fast and was back supervising irrigation shifts in no time.”

‘Side by side’, people’s choice finalist, by Aimee Brock.

Golden-hour landscapes, cotton pickers, trucks and sweeping rural scenes were also prominent throughout this year’s competition.

The winning photographs will be displayed at the Cotton Australia stand during the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in August, where conference attendees will vote to determine the People’s Choice Award.