Photo caption: ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’ by George Williams from Walgett is the winner of the 2022 Christmas Card Photo Competition.

A stunning photograph of a bridge over floodwater at Walgett has been selected as the winner of the 2022 Christmas Card Photo Competition conducted by Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton.

Mr Coulton congratulated Walgett photographer George Williams for being named the winner of the inaugural photo competition, with his photograph titled ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’.

“This photo of the old Two Mile Creek Rail Bridge just out of Walgett is incredible,” Mr Coulton said.

“It was an immediate stand-out – the beautiful colours of golden hour at sunset, the perfect symmetry of the bridge and the floodwater flowing underneath that is synonymous with what many areas of the Parkes electorate have experienced this year.

“George’s photo was hard to go past. It’s a postcard-perfect image that makes you want to go and visit this bridge in person. And that’s exactly what this photo competition is about – showcasing the best, sometimes hidden, parts of the Parkes electorate.

“Congratulations George!”

Bridge Over Troubled Waters was one of more than 130 entries received in the Christmas Card Photo Competition.

“I have been overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of entries, with so many incredible photos highlighting just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful part of the world,” Mr Coulton said.

“It was extremely difficult to narrow the entries down to a selection of shortlisted images, and even tougher to pick a winner from those finalists.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the competition.”

A total of 14 finalists, including Mr Williams, were selected. The other finalists (in no particular order) include:

• Alan Hughes from Dubbo for his photo of the bridge over the Darling River at Wilcannia
• Brendon Kramel from Narrabri for his photo of a rainbow at sunset in Wanaaring
• Erin Brouff from Warren for her photo of a picnic at sunset on a property in Warren
• Geoff Wheeler from Dubbo for his photo of cattle on a property on the Old Dubbo Road
• Janelle Simpson from Mount Foster for her photo of the flooded Carinda Road 60 kilometres northwest of Warren at sunset
• Kristy-Lee Bonney from Wee Waa for her photo of a cotton crop at sunset
• Leanne Schwager from Wee Waa for her photo of family time at sunset at Yarrie Lake
• Mark Middendorff from Warren for his photo of a fiery sunset over flowering canola
• Michael Cooper from Dubbo for his photo of flooding at the Bourke Weir
• Naomi Stone from Lightning Ridge for her photo of the sunset over a wet entrance to Lightning Ridge
• Narelle Rodway from Gilgandra for her photo of a bright yellow canola crop in the afternoon sunshine beside the ancient volcanic Warrumbungle Mountains
• Terri-Lea Hubbard from Gunnedah for her photo of harvest on a property in Gunnedah
• Tracy Bennett from Tottenham for her photo of a road on her property under water at sunset

“Well done to each of these finalists,” Mr Coulton said.

“Due to the high quality of the finalists, I have decided to make a collage on the inside of my Christmas card with each of these photos – they were all too good not to include somehow!”

Residents will be able to admire all the finalists’ photos when Mr Coulton’s annual Christmas card and fridge magnet calendar is delivered to every household in the Parkes electorate during the first week of December.