documentary photography, from the University of Sydney College of Arts, works towards capturing

the character of the town.

Compiling this body of work is Dawne

Fahey, a professional photographer and registered nurse. She is focusing on looking beyond the surface of the Ridge’s people and place.

Previously, in 2006, Ms Fahey held an

exhibition in Gosford displaying a selection of photos from an earlier visit to Lightning Ridge.

It was there that she discovered, from the people that viewed

her works, that the

links people have with this little town far exceeds the norm and cemented her interest in the area.

In this visit, Ms Fahey will be documenting the Opal Festival and she is hoping she can return later in the year to take photos of the Music Festival at Lorne Station.

“I have been gathering PO boxes from the people and I’ll send photos back when I print them,” said Ms Fahey.

She has also noted that bringing the exhibition or the book to the Ridge at the end of her Masters is not out of the question but that is an avenue that is a long way away and also would be pending funding.