The Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council (ARLIC) would like to congratulate Kiesha Taunoa, the inaugural winner of the All Stars photography competition for her photo titled “toa rangatahi - e rua nga motu (Young warrior - two islands).”
Kiesha's winning photo was entered into the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture, land and lifestyle category.
The ARLIC invited individuals from within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to become a key part of the 2024 Indigenous All Stars celebration through the first ever All Stars photography competition.
Individuals who participated in the competition were invited to submit a photo in one of the two categories - how we wear our culture is how we tell our stories or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture, land, and lifestyle.
"This photo represents a young male warrior representing both his cultures, being aboriginal and Māori," said Kiesha.
"He carries his korowai on his chest whilst he goes hunting with his boomerang. With his mother being Torres Strait islander from Saibai Island/ Māori - Ngati Porou and his father being Aboriginal from clans Wakka Wakka and Gamilaroi, our young warrior will grow with the privilege of learning all his cultures from his elders to become the warrior and protector he will be in the near future.
"toa rangatahi - e rua nga motu (Young warrior - two islands). "
The judging panel consisted of Grant Trouville (NRL Representative), Toby Adams (ARLIC Representative), Ross Hooper (Nikon Representative) and Aunty Barbara Mcgrady.
“To receive so many applications from across the country really shows the talent that we have throughout our communities," said Mr Adams.
"We’re proud that ARLIC and the NRL can create an opportunity for aspiring First Nations photographers, to not only showcase their skills, but be able to explore photography as a career pathway through this unique experience where they’ll be mentored by some of the game’s leading photographers on the sideline for the NRL All Stars match in Townsville."
Aunty Barbara McGrady, born 1950 in Mungindi, New South Wales is a Gomeroi (Gamilaraay)/Murri/Yinah woman, and is recognised as Australia's first Indigenous photojournalist.
McGrady has been photographing the political and social events of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of the Redfern, Surry Hills and Waterloo communities for more than 30 years and specialises in recording First Nations sporting figures.
As part of her prize Kiesha will be heading to Townsville this week and will attend a Nikon experience, photographing the All Stars games with a is Nikon Z5 + NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, supplied by Nikon.
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Kiesha's story
What is your nation / mob?
My bloodline runs from senpol Badu Island and Saibai Island then out to New Zealand, My iwi is Ngati porou.
When did you start photography?
I started photography when I was 15, on my iPhone taking photos of the nature around me from beaches to rivers and from sunrises to sunsets that really sparked my interest in photography.
What do you like about photography?
I like being able to bring life into a photo and make it become a real eye-catcher. I also like being creative and coming up with new ideas for a photo with the angle you choose, and just catching the right moment to take the picture you end up with a beautiful photo.
Photography never becomes boring it just gets so addictive wanting to do more.
Why did you apply for the NRL competition? And why did you choose this image?
Reading what the competition was about, gave me an opportunity to showcase my talent and what I could do, and expressing the culture that lives in this image. I didn’t think I was going to win, I just wanted to share a beautiful image that I thought would intertwine with this competition perfectly.
I chose this image because it showcases a young male warrior who embraces both his cultures being Māori and Aboriginal who is also my son.
How important is to share your culture?
Sharing and teaching culture today in this generation is very important, because the knowledge you share is what will keep our culture alive for today and tomorrow and the next generations to come.
What do you hope to get out of this experience?
I hope to gain new techniques and skills out of this experience that I will use and then hopefully one day I will turn my passion for photography into a career.
Tickets for Harvey Norman All Stars 2024 are available from nrl.com/tickets, starting at $35 for adults and $95 for families (two adults and two children).
