Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has congratulated North Queensland photographer Cameron Laird on his prestigious Walkley accolade for a picture taken during this year’s history-making Federal Election.

At an awards ceremony in Melbourne tomorrow night (December 9), the freelance photographer will be presented with the 2010 Nikon-Walkley Australian Portrait Prize for his image of Bob during intense negotiations in the immediate days after Australians voted to produce a hung Parliament.

Mr Katter said he felt the photograph had captured him well in the lounge of his North Qld home at Charters Towers, well away from the glare of the Canberra press pack.

“At the time it felt like my feet had barely touched the ground, yet as Cameron’s picture showed, the worn soles of my shoes told another tale,” said Mr Katter.

“The image also provided an insight into my ideological background – showing both my family heirloom collection of mounted antique firearms; and the portrait of former Queensland Premier and Depression-era Federal Treasurer, Ted Theodore.

“And the rolled-up shirtsleeves and phone glued to my ear are testament to just how frantic it was during those days immediately after the election, when the fate of the nation’s governance resting in the hands of three rural independents helped shine a spotlight on bush Australia, which has been neglected for far too long.”

Mr Katter said another of Mr Laird’s images, showing Bob waiting at a local aerodrome with his granddaughter Kate, had also struck a chord with the extended family.

“Cameron most certainly has an eye for capturing the bigger picture – more than just the objects in the frame – and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” he said.