The Young West Project

the young west project A story in photographs about young people in the West of Mount Alexander Shire and beyond

L to R - Talen, Louis, Kaleb, Jasper, Bryan & Hugh, Oliver, Edward, Timo, Nathan The YOUNG WEST Youth Hub, 2015

the young west project

Book design & layout by Matt McDougal. Project concept & design by Deanna Neville, Focus on Community, 2015

YOUNG WEST – The beginnings

This book was inspired by young people.

We wanted young people in the west of Mount Alexander Shire to be seen. In 2013 we celebrated 15 awesome local young people by showcasing large photographic posters of them during the Maldon Artists Network (MANet) Art Walk. Titled ‘YOUNG WEST’, the exhibition by Deanna Neville of ‘Focus on Community’ was part of the Castlemaine State Festival.

The response from the community was brilliant, mostly because people realised that there were young people actively living, working and participating in our community. The project made them visible.

In the Summer of 2014 Deanna taught 12 young people photography skills, focusing on composition and portraiture. They photographed each other and other young people they knew in the west of the Shire.

Accompanied by personal stories, their portraits were displayed in Maldon shop windows, as part of the MANet Portrait Prize, as well as being exhibited in other public places and circulated widely via social media.

After receiving great reviews and accolades from the public, the project was invited by Council to exhibit at the 2014 Mount Alexander Shire Youth Awards, held in Castlemaine at the Market Building exhibition space. The participants in YOUNG WEST were again visible. The value of YOUNG WEST was recognized as a significant program to engage young people in the west of Mount Alexander Shire.

In February 2015 began the new face of YOUNG WEST. Every fortnight young people meet at the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre and enjoy the experience of new friends and diverse interests in their own space. Called ‘The YOUNG WEST Youth Hub’, and supported by the Victorian government through the Engage! Grant, young people from anywhere in the Shire are encouraged to come along.

And we think our young people rock.

Maldon Neighbourhood Centre Cnr Church & Edwards Streets Maldon 3463 T: 5475 2093 E: youngwest@maldonnc.org.au

talfin greentree, maldon Photographed by Sahara Wittenberg, Castlemaine

Must have a meaning I like that costume because it reflects my nature as a vampire. I find most people mundane so I like dressing in a manner that makes their reactions less mundane.

I’ve always liked art from a very early age. I intend to do something in art when I am released from school. I’m planning to go overseas to explore my art interests. I appreciate art that is creative in itself. I dislike modern art that is referred to as contemporary. It must have a meaning and to look nice for me to like it.

robert thompson, maldon Photographed by Travis Elliott, Walmer

That’s what I needed I was 2005 Young Junior Citizen of the Year, which I think is pretty cool. Getting into University - I didn’t think it was going to happen, so I’m happy with that. I was President of the Maldon Museum at the age of 18.

That’s pretty cool.

I’ll end up, hopefully being an accountant. As dry as it sounds, I enjoy doing it. I’m Treasurer of the Maldon Brass Band and I have been the Treasurer of the Australia Day Committee but I had to give it up because of Uni. I have an interest in community finance and education of community finance. It’s good for people to know what’s right and what’s wrong. If I ever do a thesis it will be on that.

I play in the Brass Band. I started 13 years ago. Not long after that, the rest of my family joined. My Grandfather used to play in the Newstead Band. I’m a 4th generation fire fighter.

All my family are in that, my grandparents were in it and my Great Grandfather was in the Newstead Brigade. Quite a history.

My Grandmother passed away at the end of 2011. With the grief you have to go through, and having to study at Uni as well, I dropped out of quite a few things, including quite a few community organisations that I’d been with for a long time.

And at the end of 2012 I wasn’t doing well at Uni and things were pretty bad. So I joined the Student Senate, became a mentor of the Business School, and re-joined all the groups again. That’s what I needed – the social interaction. I’d done it all my life and although I still don’t have enough time for it all, it’s what helps me get through.

sahara wittenberg, castlemaine Photographed by Ellie Barkla, Castlemaine

Being so close I like animals, and going for walks with the dogs. I find it interesting taking pictures. I also like baking, and I like tennis but I haven’t played for a while.

I came from South Africa a year ago. It was scary coming on my own, and scary at first joining the new class at school. I stayed with my sister at the first bit, and I liked that my mum came to visit for a while.

South Africa was nice. I liv+ed right near the beach.

I miss the sea. It wasn’t so easy there in the school, especially high school, and I definitely missed my sisters here a lot when I was living in South Africa. It’s great now, being so close.

travis elliott walmer Photographed by Jimmy McDougall, Walmer

Be more confident I did CFA youth training as a Yr 9 project at school.

I learnt about how to use the trucks, learnt how to use a fire extinguisher and how to put out a small fire. It gave me a basic knowledge if I wanted to go into the CFA, more interest, so I came out and signed up with the CFA in Walmer. I did my fivemonth probation as a Brigade member and then a Youth Leadership course in Blampeid.

I also do Venturers. It’s about camping, volunteering and all different things you can do in the community. You do things like expression, initiative, unit management and expedition categories for Venturer Awards.

The courses I’ve done over the years helped me overcome things like doing things on my own.

It’s helped me be more confident and helped by giving me strategies to overcome things like having difficulty with my reading and writing.

Most of the courses I go on help me with these sorts of strategies.

oscar lynzat, newstead Photographed by Aidan Fryer, Castlemaine

Pull through and manage I have played in five Grand Finals, and won three of them. I’ve won five Best and Fairest. So I like Sport, Cricket, Hanging out with friends and Chillin’, Partyin’ hard, just anything I find fun!

I think that I have achieved well in school, and I have participated in extra curricular activities. I have also done well in music. But regarding the future, I have no idea, I will just see where my life takes me!

One year I broke my leg during the footy season when I was going for Best and Fairest. I managed to pull through, and win that year, and I didn’t let it stop me.

After my mother passed away I had to also deal with having a single parent, but I have managed to pull through and manage that.

chloe hughes, muckleford Photographed by Bella Shanks, Maldon

He inspired me I really like my netball. I play for the Castlemaine squad and we got to play in Queensland, so that was really good. I want to be a vet when I’m older.

I love animals and always have. I’m doing Yr 11 and Yr 12 subjects – biology, chemistry, math methods and English because I want to do a Bachelor in Science to get into Vet Science.

Probably the most difficult thing is my diabetes.

It’s an ongoing thing. It’s unstable all the time. I used to hate having my needles but it’s just a daily routine so you get used to it and have to accept it ‘cos you can’t get rid of it.

I love sport. I love going out with my friends. I love going out for breakfast with them before school which is a really nice thing to do. I also play the violin. I’ve been playing for about eight to nine years, since I was in Grade 2. I play in school orchestras. I like doing it as a hobby, and I inherited my Great Grandfather’s violin. He was a really good player and he inspired me.

bianca franklin walmer Photographed by Travis Elliott, Walmer

I’m glad I did it Last year I got an award as Member of the Year at Castlemaine Fire Brigade. I was surprised about it; I didn’t think I’d get it. I’ve learnt a lot of different things around fire fighting. I’ve done a few courses and it’s good to learn more through structure and hazmat training. I’m hoping to stay with it for awhile. I’ve always thought about doing career fire fighting, something a bit different, especially for women.

I’ve just started a Diploma of Photography in Melbourne. We’ve started with analogue, black and white printing, studio work and setting up lighting.

I do a lot of horse riding. I ride and compete at Maldon Pony Club. I started when I was three, so I’ve been riding 16 years now, so it’s just how I grew up; riding.

The biggest struggle was Yr 12, and the stresses of that. And I did two art subjects so it was hard because I had to complete two folios. I’m glad I did it – it is really good to accomplish it, and I did really well with my photography folio, which is quite an achievement.

ryan white walmer Photographed by Jimmy McDougall, Walmer

How other people live I’ve been in the B-Grade final of the local cricket competition, that was really good. It was Muckleford versus Campbells Creek. Each time we versed them we lost but that was the one game we won against them.

With Olivet Christian College I went over to Fiji in late December 2012. About four or five schools go to a convention in Gippsland where we have competitions in mathematics and sport etc.

I got through with table tennis and the 1,500 metre run. I came third in the 1,500 metre and second in the table tennis. That was a really good experience to see how other people live there.

I’m into a bit of basketball at the moment. I used to play tennis and footy, but cricket took over though, and because I was better at cricket.

My best friend’s family are really into cars and I’m thinking of doing up the old car we have at home.

It’s a Mazda 808 wagon and I’m thinking of taking it to his place to do up while he works on his Ford F100 truck.

jimmy mcdougall, walmer Photographed by Acacia Chumbley-Goldsmith Taradale

I’m where I’m meant to be I hope to end up going out to sea on a ship – preferably a sailing ship. So if I work hard enough I might be able to do that after Yr 11.

I’m happy where I live – there’s lots of space to go around, especially the forest out the back.

I like adventuring I guess.

I like my two brothers. They get annoying at times. When I moved schools, I skipped nearly a whole grade, so I was a bit behind. And, well, my Mum and Dad and Nan helped me a lot with doing extra homework, with Maths and English. And, well, I’ve pretty much caught up with where I’m meant to be. Just a few bits and bobbies need a bit of working on.

I hope one day to have a decent job. While I’m at school I’m planning to help my Dad with his gardening jobs and probably on weekends I’ll go to the Café to work with Uncle Matt.

cadel watson, maldon Photographed by Aidan Fryer, Castlemaine

Be excellent to each other I’d say that all my life achievements to date are as a young person, considering I’m still 15. I’m still alive. How cool is that? There’s so many ways people can die but I’m just sitting here riding it out. Other than that, none seem so significant that they warrant a mention. I’d like to be successful, obviously. Maybe be a bioinformatician, or a lawyer, or a programmer.

I’m not really sure yet. But I’m into a bunch of stuff, the majority being ‘nerdy’, or as I like to call it, ‘cool’.

I play a lot of Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, read comic books and write computer programs. I used to worry about what other people thought about me, until I realised that every person in the world worries about that.

So worrying about it wasn’t hipster enough for me and I stopped.

I just figure, be excellent to each other.

charlie daldy, welshmans reef Photographed by Acacia Chumbley-Goldsmith, Taradale

A lot of fun to be around In enjoy music and English and drawing. I just draw at home, generally, by myself. But I participate in school activities with my music.

I’m in a couple of school bands. I’m in the school Walking Band, which has lots of horns in it – loosely based around New Orleans music.

I’ve got six siblings. I enjoy babysitting my youngest brother. We range from age 3 to 18. A lot of fun to be around. I just enjoy being home with everybody.

English ties into things I do, like music analysis, focusing on one piece of music and writing about the different aspects. I did a music analysis of ‘Happy Nigun’, which is in the genre of Klezmer. I very much enjoyed analysing this piece.

clancy mcleod, maldon Photographed by Rory McLeod, Maldon

An adventurous life I don’t regard myself as terribly successful, but I guess I have acquired a pretty solid skill set to tackle life with. I’ve worked pretty hard on my guitar over the last few years, and i feel like I’ll keep improving. Also I’m at a good school in Melbourne which is providing a great academic foundation.

In the short term I want to do well in my VCE, especially my music subjects, and in the long term I want to live an adventurous life and be happy. What I find difficult that I have to manage is, mainly, balancing my music with playing high level sport whilst going to an academically demanding school.

jess anderson, green gully Photographed by Travis Elliot, Walmer

I think I coped really well It was hard to cope with a sickness that Matthew had as a newborn. He had reflux really bad but I think I coped really well, as a young person, taking him to hospital a couple of times.

I like camping. I love taking him camping and swimming. And I’ve got into the whole thing of trucks and utes because of him – been to the Ute Muster and the Truck Show. He has a ball, he loves it.

I’m pretty outgoing and I like to help. It’s not easy for a young person, being young parents with a growing family and trying to look for a new place to live. It’s hard to keep going each day, because you’re looking for something that’s just right for them; that it’s safe, has a backyard, and it’s got a bath!

ellie barkla, castlemaine Photographed by Sahara Wittenberg, Castlemaine

They give me strength I like singing and playing piano and all that sort of jazz. It’s something that I’d like to pursue but you’ve got a lot of people telling you that it’s not viable and when there’s art and creative expression then the reality sets in.

Both my Mum and Dad have had cancer in the last three years, so I draw emotion and inspiration from that, but I don’t try to focus on the negative things – that seems like a pretty obvious waste of time. I’ve grown up in a household just constantly filled with a sense of humour from day one, so that, I think, has moulded me in every way. But I don’t know – people might find me boring!

In terms my family, it’s me, my sister Hannah and the two crazy people that live with me! So my family are my life force. They give me my strength. I can’t emphasize in spoken words the importance of them in every sense.

katie petrusma, harcourt Photographed by Bella Shanks, Maldon

The one thing that really got me through I’ve always wanted to have animals, like horses and dogs, and it took about ten years to convince my parents, but I got there. I’d really like to get into Agriculture – that’s a big thing I want to do. I’ve got to go to Uni but I want to work on farms before I go.

I’ve pursued school. I like learning, even though I find school difficult I haven’t given up. Now I love reading books. And I’m doing Yr 13 now.

Last year I was doing Yr 12 but I got very unwell. That was definitely a big challenge for me and I have to be extra careful that I don’t relapse. I started to get really tired all the time. At first mentally, then physically, a lot. I couldn’t ride my horses. At one stage, if I even sat on my horse, I’d be out of it the rest of the day, just so tired. I missed a lot of school because I found it difficult to concentrate or to even go. It was Chronic Fatigue and it affected me a lot, which was really hard because I was such an active person.

I had a lot of support from my parents. I think I cried a lot. The one thing that really got me through was my dog, Dean. It wouldn’t have been as easy to get through without him there.

laura telford, maldon Photographed by Rory McLeod, Maldon

An opportunity to branch out I completed VCE in 2012, winning school awards for academic achievement that placed me in the top 8 high achievers of the year within Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Although I burnt out before some of my exams i still finished with an ATAR of 84.05. I was immediately accepted into the Ballarat Academy of Performing Arts where I am now, a Second Year actor.

I have no idea what I will aspire to in the future.

I’ll probably do something in the performing arts, whether it be stage screen or script work. Music, performance of course, also literature and history interest me.

Living in Maldon, I’ve spent a lot of time travelling for my education. In some ways it’s good as I have an opportunity to branch out and have a wider variety of experiences than i might otherwise have had, still it has been difficult and often life at home has been sacrificed.

rory mcleod, maldon Photographed by Talfin Greentree, Maldon

Following my passions I suppose getting to know myself. I’m more comfortable within my own body, than if I didn’t know myself. I think it’s hard for young people to move out into a world where housing is expensive, to find your passion and to make a living at the same time. However, it’s good to know there are so many years ahead of you to nut those things out.

I’m very interested in animals, photography and film-making. More specifically I’m interested in cinematography. I’ve been working on a music video with my brother. I’ve realised that there’s lots to learn if I want to make it to a professional standard – the filming, the planning of shots. And also, I have acquired a new camera and lens and I have been enjoying learning how to use it, thinking of having an exhibition down the track. I like the idea of having some of my photos blown up to the size of a wall.

I’ve really enjoyed photographing people, which I’d normally feel shy about.

I’d say I’ve had a lot of difficulty in following my passions ‘cos I’d say that they’re liable to change, a lot. Since Yr 12 I’ve had several years to explore my interests and I’m hoping to follow them up at university.

daniel clarke, maldon Photographed by Robert Thompson, Maldon

A bit of an achievement I enjoy vintage cars and music. My local musical interests would be the Maldon Brass Band. I’ve been the Musical Director since I was 22. I joined the band as a player when I was 15. It brings me new challenges each week, because I’ve just taken over teaching the new juniors how to play their instruments whilst at the same time providing musical advice to the more experienced players, choosing the band’s repertoire, etc.

I’ve always thought of the Brass Band as a bit of an achievement. The members are finding talents they didn’t think they had; I’m pushing them to play music they may have felt uncomfortable to before.

I work as an engineer restoring vintage cars. We rarely work on anything newer than WW2 – mainly British and European sports and touring cars. Mine is a 1926 Austin Heavy 12/4. I bought it as a going car and blew the engine up immediately and spent the next five years building another engine for it!

acacia chumbley-goldsmith, taradale Photographed by Talfin Greentree, Maldon

How I can help in the world Personally I dont think I have achieved that much as a young person. I have, however, made amazing friends and I am happy as ever since I started high school. I hope I achieve lots in the next couple of years and find out how I can help in the world.

I’d like to finish high school and get a degree in something I love so much; that would be superb. And make some great friends that I will have for life and buy a house and go to great places, plus travel a fair bit mainly Europe because my Mum always tells me about when she went there and always shows me photos, so I think it would be a great experience.

I have been really getting into drawing and writing short stories. I’m not sure why, but it puts me in a great mood and sets my mind free. And I started playing the ukulele so that is really enjoyable. Being in Yr 9 has really made me very interested in street art because I am doing a class called ‘Art vs Street’.

When I was younger it was pretty difficult having my parents split up and all that drama that a lot of kids go through; it’s tough. I got over it and now both my parents are very happy.

vincent sharkey, castlemaine Photographed by Rory McLeod, Maldon

How other people see the world I did Outward Bound last year. It was pretty challenging. The walking was hard. Made some good friends. I want to move to Melbourne when I finish school. I’m not sure if I want to go to Uni. I’d like to be in a band. I played piano when I was in about Grade 4 then when I turned 12 I got an electric guitar and I’ve got a bass guitar and I got drum lessons. So I’m pretty handy with band-type stuff. We jam a bit, at school. We do it in our spare time a bit and with school a lot. We play rock and metal and grunge-type deal. I might get into making music down the track. I’ve always wanted to be a roadie and go around with a band.

I like street art. But I haven’t done much of it. I watch a lot of movies. I might write a film script. I like seeing how other people see the world. I like the way directors put things in films, like music, camera angles and the way it’s all put together.

It’s pretty cool.

When I was younger I got into trouble a bit at school. I think you use your emotions to fuel what you’re doing. Even if I’m pissed off, really sad or even happy, you can use it to create things.

bella shanks, maldon Photographed by Ellie Barkla, Castlemaine

You make the change When I grow up I want to be a pastry chef and work in a patisserie. I’ve completed first year of hospitality and I want to travel the world and see what life brings, take everything as the ‘glass is half full’.

I love cooking and creating and designing new things.

I have started to form an interest in hairdressing too; so I may add that as another certificate to my list. I also have an interest in animals; helping and fixing their needs. And I love working with children and making them happy.

I’ve had to decide where I want to go in life and what I want to do to make myself the best person I can be and not follow down the wrong path. I’ve experienced a lot of difficult moments … loved ones being in hospital and me being unable to help them and just seeing their health get worse every day … getting over the fear of talking in front of people and being confident in myself as a person and not worrying about what others think. Only you can change the way you are; others can influence you but you make the change you wish to see in yourself.

maddi bosaid, maldon Photographed by Katie Petrusma, Harcourt

I’m inspired I’m very interested in art. I love watercolour painting and making digital art on my computer. I’m also very passionate about music and I play the guitar. I listen to a lot of music, lots of genres.

In the future I’d like to be an architect. I think my parents have influenced me because my Mum was a draughtsperson and my Dad’s an engineer. I really like the idea of creating spaces and I’m inspired by different buildings and different styles and different eras.

Another thing I’m very passionate about is languages. I study French and Japanese. And in the future I’d love to ultimately end up living in France as an architect.

Last year I was House Captain at my school, and we won two Spirit Cups. The Houses compete against each other and they chant.

The House Captain comes up with the chant routines and the theme. There are two each year and we won them both!

aidan fryer, castlemaine Photographed by Vincent Sharkey, Castlemaine

A grain of salt I think that some of my main achievements so far in life are just my hobbies in general. I am proud to learn tuba, and play in bands around the community and school. I also am proud of my acceptance into the Alpine School for Student Leadership, which went for five weeks.

Right now, I am sorting out what my interests are first of all, and I figure I will go from there. I am interested in a great range of things. Some of the main ones are music, IT, photography, and I also like financial things. I have also been into things like archery, and I tend to try out things, and see what I think of them!

I have experienced many different sorts of challenges throughout my life, and I am still dealing with some things. Really, the main thing I have learnt is to not overthink things, and really not to take them as much of a big deal. Not to disregard them, but just to put them in their place, as it is easy to blow things out of proportion very quickly. Take everything in life with a grain of salt.

Don’t take life too seriously. Have fun!

sarah lovel, baringhup Photographed by Katie Petrusma, Harcourt

The strengths of the local community Living rurally isn’t easy. I commute daily to Uni in Ballarat which means getting up in the dark of a morning and most nights home in the dark as well. Feeding up half a dozen horses in negative temperatures and the pitch black isn’t fun, let me tell you! However living rurally has given us the opportunity to develop our horse stud “Sheoak Park Performance Horses”, which although time consuming and frustrating at times is also extremely rewarding and an achievement I am proud of. I have had to make sacrifices and “free time” is now a thing of the past, however it is all worth it to lead a lifestyle we enjoy and hopefully build something that will last into the future.

Netball is my escape outside of horses. I’m part of the Maldon FNC which comprises of a great bunch of girls. Increasing team success on court is rewarding, highlighting the strength of our local female sporting community. I’ve been fortunate enough to win A grade B&F these last few years which is an achievement I am proud of. Hopefully the club can continue to achieve success in years to come.

Living where I live isn’t always easy, those 40 degree days spent carting hay and water can be a killer, but I love the country and what we are achieving, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

portraits from the 2013 young west collection Photographed by Deanna Neville, Focus on Community, with assistance from young west participants

amelia rowe, maldon

beck mcknight, baringhup

eve gray, walmer

gyula jakab, walmer

hayley kinross, maldon

jasmine leech, newstead

jimmy mcdougal, walmer

kirsten-alyce stuchbree, maldon

kitty burns, maldon

mani hardinge & coen hardinge, maldon

mark webb, maldon

matthew thompson, maldon

toby collins, maldon

travis elliot, walmer

tristan davenport, newstead

young west photography