Telling the stories of rural Victoria during unprecedented times
#SnapshotRuralVic was designed to connect rural audiences and provide positive digital opportunities for sharing stories and images supporting mental health. Plans for the project were initiated during a challenging time for many rural communities—as ongoing drought conditions were followed by bushfires across large areas of rural Victoria—posing increased risks to poor mental health. The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 raised a new threat to our rural communities, adding new layers of social isolation and unemployment.
The implications of COVID-19 soon changed the way of life for not only Victorians, but people and nations worldwide. The #SnapshotRuralVic campaign commenced in August, as Victoria was declared to be in a State of Disaster and all Victorians facing six weeks of strict lockdowns. Schools were closed, retail shopfronts empty, and mask wearing and social distancing became part of everyday life.
By encouraging people to be creative and talk about their experiences, #SnapshotRuralVic saw a diverse range of Victorians sharing their stories and surrounds through photography, videography and storytelling. The campaign ran for 10 weeks, with a different theme each week to provide inspiration for participants. In addition to the theme, participants were encouraged to share everyday snippets of their life, combining to paint a unique picture of Victoria during this time.
Each week, five entries were shortlisted and shared across multiple social media platforms, with public voting deciding the ‘People’s Choice’ winner of that week. Submissions were shortlisted based on key criteria, including relevance to theme, creativity and storytelling. The winners of the awards received a $100 and $50 voucher respectively to a local business of their choice. The campaign supported a range of local businesses during this challenging time, including retail stores, cafes, nurseries and hairdressers!
UPDATE
While the #SnapshotRuralVic campaign has ended you are still welcome to join the #Snapshot community on the following platforms:
@SnapshotRuralVic on Instagram
@Farmer_Health on Instagram
#SnapshotRuralVic Community on Facebook
National Center for Farmer Health on Facebook
Purchase the #SnapshotRuralVic Coffee Table Book
Winner
Susie Burke, Donald
Crop inspecting: these kids are learning about root structure and plant health and seeing for themselves how
rain (or lack of) affects plant growth. Open air classrooms are our favourite!
#SnapshotRuralVic Award Winners
Whilst the 10 week #SnapshotRuralVic campaign might be over, we are excited to bring you a final hurrah highlighting a range of incredible imagery and stories from across the state.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit an entry into the #Snapshot Rural Vic Awards. It was fantastic to see so many amazing photos and accompanying stories be submitted through our Facebook and Instagram accounts.
In the time of Covid
Things have looked a little different across the state lately, from deserted playgrounds to mandatory masks and iso-birthdays. This category asks you to share your unique story we can soon look back and remember this strange time in history.
Runner Up
Malcom J Cock, Buchan
At least the cattle don’t have to wear masks! East Gippsland is currently having a great spring after 3-4 years drought, fires and COVID19. Grass Fever: Stock prices are also the best ever so it is a good time to sell, particularly the poorer performers….. even if it means having excess feed.
Winner
Nic Harvey, South Gippsland
#inthetimeofcovid meant that this little man along with every other child had to be home schooled. I dreaded the thought of having to home-school during the busiest time on the farm, with cow’s calving and rearing calves. I was wrong. We incorporated learning into our day to day farm job’s, and we both really enjoyed it, and most of all spending the extra time together. I just love the cheeky look on his face, covering Gilbert the goat in hay. These two are always playing and having fun together.
Favourite Farm Animal
It’s been a bountiful spring, with plenty of adorable lambs, calves and chicks filling up the #SnapshotRuralVic feed. Share with us a photo or video of your favourite farm animal, and tell us what makes them special!
Runner Up
Susie Burke, Donald
Little cutie. Little ‘Mia’ lost her mum shortly after this pic, then her twin failed to thrive and despite our best efforts, she died too. Mia now hangs out in our garden and waits for the kids to come home from school to play with her.
Winner
Ashley Quinsey, Hamilton
We all have that one pet that hears the creak of the back door, the whine of the rusty gate, or the clink of the chain… next minute they are running at you like they missed you all day (maybe it’s the but of veggie scraps I hold) But they cheer up your mood even if they have dug up your freshly revived mulch, or layed the eggs under the house. They make a great conversation starter and really can be that mood changer, it doesn’t matter if their two our four legged they are good for your mental health… oh and their eggs go well with bacon! Brenda is never shy of the camera
Wild Weather
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen all kinds of wild weather, from snow to sunshine, floods and storms. Share with us your wild weather experiences!
Runner Up
Nic Harvey, South Gippsland
The storm is about to hit and the heifers are taking off to shelter.
Winner
Robyn Ryan, Colbinabbin
I am fascinated with clouds and couldn’t help take some photos of the sunset and what appears to be pink rain!
Rural Landscapes
During the past few months, rural Victorians have been especially thankful for the vast, open spaces and everchanging landscapes. This category is looking to discover rural Victoria’s beautiful landscapes.Be sunrise, sunset, a bumper canola crop or a mountainous panorama, we want you to share with us why this landscape is special to you.
Runner Up
Jess Knight, Stratford
It has been raining here for the best part of a week so it was nice to have a sunny day. After 3 years of drought we will never complain about rain.
Winner
Andrew Edgar, Nareen
Evening fly fish. This rural landscape means a great deal to me as it’s where I live and farm with my family, I love the space and beauty
Celebrating Nature
As the pace of life slowed down during lockdown, maybe you’ve noticed subtle yet beautiful changes in the seasons, or unique natural phenomena occurring in your daily routine. This category captures the micro side of nature, encouraging you to capture the beauty of the natural world.
Runner Up
Simone Williams, Hamilton
Rainbows Bee-eaters have arrived at Lake Lonsdale again for there annual breeding, they are ground nesters preferring sandy areas and river banks and feed on the insects, they are the only bee eater species in Australia.
Winner
Robyn Ryan, Colbinabbin
Covid has certainly slowed down the pace of my life and given me time to see the smaller things and take in the beauty of nature!
#Snapshot Story
And finally, this category is for those who have a unique story to tell. Whether it be through poetry, narrating a video, the written word or simply a series of images, this category encourages you to get creative,share a yarn and start a conversation.
Janice Newham, Walwa
In The Time of Covid, we were isolated from neighbours, friends, family and social activities, and although there was still lots to do on the farm: endless fences to replace and repair post Black Summer bush fires, cattle work, weed spraying, tree planting, etc, etc, we still needed a sanity saver Covid-19 project. ……..
My better half, Crundle (Robert Newnham), had read all the books in the house, we have no local library (and libraries had closed anyway) and driving 120Km to Albury / Wodonga to purchase books didn’t qualify as an essential trip! We figured others would be in the same boat, so we decided as our Covid project we would create a community library / book exchange. We don’t do things by halves and the project became a passion…. Four doors, some scrap iron, left over dado boards from the Jingellic Hall (salvaged in c1970), a quirky lizard door handle (Sasha’s school project in 2013) and a few layers of paint and Voilà: The Tardis AKA Walwa Book Exchange!
Today, the Tardis landed in Walwa (our town). It is hosted by the lovely Joanne Bell and partner Chris on their property with Main Street frontage. We hope that community members and visitors to the caravan park and free camping along the Murray River willtake the opportunity to feed their appetite for escape into a book and use our quirky book exchange.
Winner
Lyn Donaldson
Prior to Covid -19, Ezrah and Nanny Lyn, like many other grandparents and grandchildren saw each other often… and sometimes daily. However, that all changed with COVID. A hug and a kiss were gone only to be replaced with a phone call or a FaceTime which was often difficult with limited mobile phone service. One of the ‘special’ times that little Ezrah missed the most was his weekly sourdough bread baking at Wannon with Nanny Lyn. Without an opportunity to help bake his bread, it was decided ‘window’ drop-offs would have to suffice. The ‘window’ drop-offs created an opportunity to have a distance face to face chat and to blow a kiss or two. Ez was still able to smell the aroma of his freshly baked bread, although not quite the same as stretching and folding your own, it did the job. It’s definitely been a tough year for all.
Week 10 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Bec Fletcher for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Lyn Donaldson for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 10 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Have I Told you the one about…’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 10
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 10 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 9 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Natalie Harding for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Trish Hurley for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 9 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Covid Cooking’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 9
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 9 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 8 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Bec Mitchell for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Gordon McCLure for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 8 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Masks on Farm’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 8
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 8 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 7 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Matthew Parkinson for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Ross Simpson for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 7 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Stories from the Shed’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 7
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 7 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 6 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Maggie Ellen for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Janice Newham for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 6 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Rural Women’s Week’
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 6
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 6 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 5 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Robyn Ryan for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Bec Mitchell for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 5 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘Spring’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 5
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 5 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 4 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Dianne Hanna for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Heather Fleming for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 4 of #SnapshotRuralVic was Covid Crafting’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 4
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 4 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote. The theme for week 5 was Covid Crafting.
Week 3 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Greg Beal for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Tina Prosser for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 3 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘View from My Window’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 3
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 3 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 2 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Bridgett Melody for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Susan Bell for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 2 of #SnapshotRuralVic was ‘The Next Generation’.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 2
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 2 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
Week 1 Award Recipients
Congratulations to Elle Moyle for taking out this weeks People’s Choice Award, and Joanna Werner for winning the Honourable Mention Award. The theme for Week 1 of #SnapshotRuralVic was Custodianship.
Snapshot weekly Shortlist – Week 1
Here is the #SnapshotShortlist for Week 1 of #SnapshotRuralVic. To vote for your favourite photo of the week, head to our Facebook or Instagram pages to vote.
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