Five-year-old Rose Kudlicki of North Fitzroy, VIC was named the Australian Child Photographer of the Year and eleven-year-old Georgia O'Neill of Casuarina Beach, NSW was name the Australian Youth Photographer of the Year at the 2nd annual Aussie Kids Photo Festival awards ceremony held at the Reef Theatre in Sydney Aquarium on the 2nd of May 2008.
Second place winners went to Chelsea Elder age 6 of Blackburn North VIC and Nathan Alexander-Brown age 9 of Cambewarra NSW; third place winners were Harry Baral age 3 of Lindfield NSW and Bryce Lavery-Jacko age 10 of Annandale NSW respectively.
The Aussie Kids Photo Festival is a unique event that recognizes, encourages and rewards the early creative expression of children's photographic talents.
The Festival encouraged children between the ages of 3 and 12 to pick up a camera and get creative with photography and at the same time support UNICEF Australia. Each entered a portfolio of their best photos in the six festival categories. More than 1500 amazing photo entries from children all over Australia were submitted into the Festival.
Every child thinks, feels and sees the world in their own unique way and through participation in the Aussie Kids Photo Festival their imaginative expression can now be both preserved and shared for the enjoyment of everyone in the community.
The Aussie Kids Photo Festival 2009 will start accepting entries 10 December 2008, on UNICEF supported International Children's Broadcast Day, in time for great shots to be taken during the summer holidays. The award ceremony will take place mid-2009.
Next year there will be three age group categories:
The Child category is open to kids aged between 3 and 7 years of age.
The Youth category is open to kids aged between 8 and 12 years of age.
*New for 2009 - The Teen category is open to kids aged between 13 and 18 years of age.
LOU NEDANOVSKI, one of the entrant's Dads wrote:
"This is an incredible opportunity for young children to express themselves in a creative form at such a young age. Photography is an art form that is instant and accessible to all. Seeing the world from a child's perspective is insightful and refreshing. The Aussie Kids Photographic Festival is the first of its kind and is one of the most inspirational events that I have come across. Not only is this nurturing young Australian creativity but it's also making them aware of others that are less fortunate than themselves."
