Marayke departs for Beijing

...and she's off!! Marayke left early Saturday morning from Brisbane bound for Beijing via Sydney and Kuala Lumpur where the swim team has a week's training and acclimatisation before the Games start on September 6th.








Team luggage is all the same. Marayke is number 224.

Beijing Paralympics getting close

Marayke is Beijing bound in just 12 days! I took this photo of her today at training.


The past few months have been busy with celebratory functions in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.Right now we are all watching our Olympians perform on TV. A few weeks ago I was priviledged enough to be at breakfasts,luncheons, presentation at Parliament House and cocktail receptions with some of these stars. In the company of my beautiful daughter Marayke who , in 12 days time, is off to her third Paralympic Games. Today I went to the pool to film and photograph her training and it was so good to see her swimming amazingly well in her fastskin spurred on by her coach Mike who is really pleased with her times. I'll post some of the images so you can see I have been busy, even if I have been enjoying myself!!

You can follow Marayke's progress in her lead up to to Beijing on her blog

www.maraykebeijing.blogspot.com





Join the cheersquad for Marayke at the Beijing Paralympic Games September 6 - 17



Marayke at the official presentation of QLD athletes going to Beijing at NOVA in Brisbane, with the Paralympic and Olympic flags.



Marayke is congratulated by Premier of QLD Anna Bligh.



Marayke with the QLD girls representing Australia in Synchronised swimming at the Beijing Olympics



Our QLD Olympians and Paralympians enjoy cocktails with the Premier at NOVA



Golden girl Libby Trickett with her golden smile



Marayke and Olympic diver Chantelle Newberry first met when they modelled Australia's team swimsuits for the media before the Athens Games in 2004. They both swam to medal winning triumph - Marayke 2 bronze and Chantelle Gold for Australia.



Marayke with singer Amy Pearson who sang "I'm Ready to Fly " for the television campaign in the lead up to Beijing.



Marayke and fellow team mates on the Paralympic Swim team Blake Cochrane and Brendan Hall



Athletes made their debut , being presented to the Premier after walking across this bridge, which was later transformed into a stage for entertainment by Amy Pearson



I remember cheering on the Australian Women's basketball team to Gold at the Sydney Paralympics captained by former coast school teacher, Alison Mosely, who now works for QLD Sporting Wheelies. She was here to give support to the basketballers going to Beijing. I've booked tickets for the basketball finals ( womens) in Beijing on the 15th September



Sports Star Awards Sunshine Coast 3rd June


Marayke with Olympian and Australian flag bearer Denise Boyd



Marayke with Olympic swimmer and triple gold medallist(1984 Games), Tracey Stockwell



Marayke and Olympic swimmer Samantha Hammill at a luncheon for Sunshine Coast athletes going to Beijing.



Luncheon guest speaker "Skippy" aka Geoff Heugill. Marayke rubbed shoulders poolside with Geoff in Sydney 2000 . He certainly has a heart warming smile!

Recent Work

What I like most about my job as a photographer is the broad scope and variety of subjects I am asked to photograph.As well as weddings , portraits and events I do some commercial work, such as these architectural shots of the Commander Centre in Maroochydore, and also artist's portfolios.

SUSIE BLUE

I was recently commissioned to photograph a portfolio for Ceramic Artist Susie Blue ,so that she can promote her work to galleries. Susie is currently artist in residence at the Cooroy Butter Factory.

Medieval Visions

It's been a while since my last post ,and yes,I am still alive. You could say I took a journey back in time and have been going through an Old Masters phase. Here are some images taken at the Abbey Medieval Tournament.




yes its real, not a still life painting



Holy crap!!!





another real still life