Focussing on life

The people of Poruma Island in the Torres Strait as well as its rich flora and fauna have been recorded by a young resident whose “natural talent” with a camera was encouraged by a Melbourne-based volunteer with ICV.

Despite having no formal training with a camera, Lewis Cook who has a mild intellectual disability spent around a fortnight working with architect Nancy Lau who has been involved in two ICV projects.

“Lewis has a natural talent with photography and takes photographs of most events that occur on Poruma Island. He showed me his significant collection of CD’s with photos on them. There must have been at least 50 discs in a huge plastic tub from over 5 years!” Nancy explained.

With Lewis employed part time at the primary school, he and Nancy would spend around four hours a day taking photographs, editing and digitally manipulating some of them.

“Most of Lewis’s subjects were his family and we spent many afternoons locating them at their homes, at work, down at the jetty or at school. No one was safe from Lewis camera!” Nancy said.

Although working in isolation, Nancy said there are hurdles that for those on the mainland are not a problem.

“It is easy to take for granted what facilities we have on mainland Australia. I thought it would be easy to print colour photos on the Island, but the library didn’t ran out of coloured ink, so we had to ask the primary school, who were more than willing to help. Sometimes, you just have to ask.” She explained.

Lewis’ love of the camera is hoped to also provide over the long term an income.

“A fond memory is the excitement and pride on Lewis’s face when he exhibited his photographs to the community. He was very proud to talk about his accomplishments and even sold a few photos as well!”

For Nancy apart from working with Lewis she says there were numerous other highlights.

“I learnt how to remove a coconut from a coconut tree with the help of Aunty Ivy. It’s something you have to do when you are on an island named Coconut Island.” She said.”Working with Lewis opened my eyes to the island life and sense of belonging in family and community. I remember walking down the main street at night, and being a hot night, families pull out their chairs and kids play under the street lights. As you walk past, everyone is friendly and polite and offer a chat.”