Second anniversary of Bilpin Black Summer Fire event remembered with award-winning photo exhibition

This afternoon was the second anniversary of the Mt Tomah Berambing burn over, and the beginning of eight horrific days for Bilpin and Kurrajong Heights districts during the Black Summer Fire event.

To acknowledge this anniversary a photographic exhibition is being held at the High Hopes Roadhouse in Bilpin, on from today.

Those stunning photographs were recently acknowledged in the Budapest International Foto Competition, with Bilpin local Jochen Spencer receiving a Silver Medal for environmental photography.

Jochen grew up in the Hawkesbury and on December 15, 2019 was having afternoon tea at Wollemi Cabins when Bilpin district experienced a burn over.

A burn over occurs when an area is engulfed in fire and you have to shelter where you are.

No warning was given that the fire was approaching the district, say many locals caught up in the conflagration.

Jochen sheltered in the office at Wollemi Cabins until it caught fire and then in a nearby fire bunker. The photos which won him the Silver Medal were taken during this burn over, and in the days following.

The photos and video footage Jochen took during the fire event have been used by media agencies around the world to show the impact of the Black Summer Fires on Australia. The footage was also used in the ABC TV series Fires, shown recently.

Jochen has a degree in Multimedia Arts from UTS and has been working in this field for the past 10 years.

He was walking and photographing in the Snowy Mountains National Park when the winners of the competition were announced in early December.

He only realised he’d won the Silver Medal when his phone received signal two days ago and the notification came through. COVID has prevented the awards being made live for the past two years.

“I’m very grateful to receive recognition from BIFA for these photos which I think tell a raw, up close story of the Black Summer Bushfires in the Blue Mountains,” Jochen says.

“These photos were taken as different fire fronts impacted the Bilpin region and represent my own personal experience surviving the fires.

Award-winning photographer Jochen Spencer

“As the two year anniversary of the Mt Wilson back burn approaches, I would like to take the opportunity to draw attention to the long recovery faced by many of those affected in the community. Some people still don’t have homes rebuilt and basic community fire-fighting upgrades have not been met,” says Jochen.

“It has been eye-opening to see first hand the disconnect between government promises and spending and actual on the ground needs of bushfire affected communities.”

An afternoon tea is being held this Sunday, December 19, from 2pm at Bilpin Apple Pie And Royal Gardenia 3158 Bells Line of Road, Berambing where people can see a more extensive display of photos and chat about how the community survived and their recovery journey so far.

For those who may be feeling blue or anxious at this time of reminder, it’s important to realise these are common feelings for people who have experienced disasters. Getting together and chatting about these experiences does often help. So go along, have an afternoon tea, and take your own photos to show and share.

For people who need more than this:

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Here’s the Award website link: https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/bifa/2021/5707

Thanks to Jochen Spencer for allowing us to share his award-winning photos for this story.

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