GEMLIFE’S `THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES’ PHOTO COMPETITION, WHICH SHOWCASES TRAVEL SNAPS FROM RESIDENT TRAVELLERS TO FEATURE IN GEMLIFE’S ANNUAL CALENDAR, HAS SEEN TWO EXPLORERS HIT THE ROAD IN A DETERMINED EFFORT TO TAKE THE WINNING PHOTOGRAPH.
Always ready for a new adventure and experience, Julie Bloxsom, of GemLife Maroochy Quays, and her friend Leslie Page had booked the Explore by GemLife motorhome for a six-day trip around NSW and Queensland. Just before leaving, they heard about the photo contest.
The pair made a snap decision to turn their holiday into a photographic excursion in search of a potentially calendar-worthy travel picture that could lead them to taking out the top prize of a three-day Explore by GemLife travel voucher.
“Our aim was to feature the motorhome in every photo and in as many locations as we could. That set the tone for the entire holiday,” said Julie.
Armed with the camera on their phones, the amateur photographers covered 1891 kilometres and travelled from Maroochydore to Kilcoy, Esk, Warwick, Stanthorpe, Tenterfield, Deep Water, Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Alstonville, Ballina and Mullumbimby.
“We took photos all the way, especially of any of the large landmarks like the Big Prawn at Ballina, and we didn’t just stick to the conventional shots. Our mission was to get as many shots as we could of large landmarks near or on top of the motorhome,” said Julie laughing.
“I guided Leslie, whose job it was to drive the motorhome, into some crazy settings to ensure we snapped some very different pictures. For example, we saw a huge trailer full of wine barrels, so we made it look like it was hooked up to the GemLife motorhome and took a photo. It was hilarious!”
Julie said that even a group of NBN technicians parked in front of the Ballina lighthouse moved their vehicles to let the snap-happy explorers line up a photo of the GemLife motorhome with the major attraction.
“We couldn’t believe how interested everyone was in our crazy mission including a whole group of people from the Sunshine Coast we met at the Deepwater Hotel who were taking part in the Dunga Derby to raise money for charity,” said Julie, who now wants to join the rally in 2024 as a driver or navigator.
So, what kind of photographers are Julie and Leslie who together managed to take more than 700 photos while on the road?
“The idea to devote our first excursion in the Explore by GemLife motorhome to taking photos for the calendar contest was so spur-of-the-moment that I didn’t even think of taking a real camera, so all were taken on our mobile phones,” said Julie.
“Leslie and I had so much fun and met some wonderful people during our little adventure. Wouldn’t be surprised if we do it all over again in 2024. Next time I’ll bring along a good camera,” chuckled Julie.