Wonders of the Wheatbelt

Wonders of the Wheatbelt

I have found myself living happily in one of the most beautiful little regions that our country has to offer. 
Being a city girl at heart, I found it hard to adjust to my 'tree- change' when I left Perth, and moved ninety six kilometres away to a little town called Northam.
However, my circumstances left me no other option but to unwillingly say goodbye to my beloved beach, and take the plunge into rural life!
At first I felt isolated, bored, worried I wouldn't be able to adjust to the quiet, unfamiliar territory that surrounded me. But I believe, everything is what you make of it. Anything can be something, as long as you have the right attitude.
In order to study full time and complete my Bachelor of Psychology, I needed to live with my Mum. So, along with my most treasured possession, my four year old daughter, I hesitantly made the move to the Avon Valley, where we settled into a giant Wheatbelt house on a giant Wheatbelt hill.

I can safely say that after five years my 'tree-change’, has become more of an.. indefinite ecosystem upgrade! Yes, I have officially evolved from a fast-paced coffee drinking cafe-strip traffic loving city girl, to a well adjusted laid back, stop and smell the roses country gal! The reason?

I fell in love.

I fell in love with the people here. I learned the real value and definition of the word 'community'. I fell in love with the history- rich buildings. I fell in love with the weather and with the sunsets. But most of all, I fell in love with the land! Mother nature offers an abundance of beauty, exclusive to this region.
My eye for detail was in overdrive. Nothing man has ever created, or ever will create, could ever come close to touching the level of magnificence that mother nature serves up for us each and every day. We need only to open our eyes and look up to see it.

And so began my obsession with photography. I was unintentionally and uncontrollably distracted, as I struggled to keep up with the wonders of the Wheatbelt, that kept beckoning me. I continuously stumbled across amazing little places, which presented some really photo worthy opportunities. This inspired me to delve deeper, and to keep searching for new locations. And I certainly found them! In fact, I am still discovering new, awesome little spots that are hidden just a stone's throw away.

After sharing my photos on Facebook, I received a generous amount of positive feedback from many locals, as well as some local news and media organisations. This was fuel to the fire. I felt excited that others could see what I see, and appreciate the splendor of this beautiful part of Australia.
I found myself on a mission to showcase all the parts of the Avon Valley I could see. Landscapes accessorised with breath-taking meteorological phenomena, snapshot macro snippets of flora and fauna we look at everyday but never really SEE, the spectacular rapids of the Avon and Mortlock rivers.
I started seeing my photographs popping up in the local newspaper, one even made front page. I was without a doubt, head over heals in love with this countryside. 

There are endless places to discover, all of them right under our noses.
Take just a few steps down a hidden track and suddenly, you can find yourself in a whole new world! There are places where you feel as if you're walking through a magical forest, like something straight out of a fairytale.
With further developments to the region, I believe the Wheatbelt, with all its wonders, could be a valued tourist destination, on par with locations such as the Kimberley or the South West.
We just haven't been discovered yet!

If it were not for this enchanting valley I now call home, I may have never discovered my passion for photography. 
I am encouraged and inspired to continue capturing the alluring, picturesque Wheatbelt.

karen.morgan83@gmail.com