Flood photo a real winner
MANY images of devastation and triumph were taken throughout the Queensland floods this year but it was the picture captured by Warwick's own Neville Madsen that impressed judges this year's Walkley media awards.
Mr Madsen took out Best Community and Regional Photography at the media's most prestigious awards for his photograph of Hannah Reardon-Smith and her mother Kathryn struggling against floodwaters in Toowoomba as an emergency services worker battled to rescue them.
Mr Madsen's parent Doug and Harriet still live in the Rose City and were brimming with pride.
"Because it's a prestigious award that he has won," Mrs Madsen said.
"We are proud of how he was received; the editor (Steve Etwell) said a lot of nice words about him."
She said her son had always wanted to go into photography and enjoyed his career.
"He's worked at the Chronicle for 23 years as photographer, but he is a Warwick boy born and bred," she said.
"And we are pleased he has done so well in a field that he absolutely loves.
"He said to me that he is lucky he has a job in something that he likes doing."
Mr Madsen is now short listed in the News Photographer of the Year category.
