2025 : 06 Alex Mao Youth Photo Award

Rose Fifita;Sanctuary;The front of our church on a quiet afternoon. It’s not just a building. It’s where we gather, laugh, sing, and sit through long services together. It’s a place we return to every Sunday, familiar as home.
Rose Fifita;Heaven, close to earth;An angel child carved in stone, hands folded in prayer. The church sits just behind. It almost feels like he’s watching over it, quietly. There’s something peaceful and sacred about this little corner.
Nathan Smith;TA2;TA2 series at Hampton Downs on lap 1
Nathan Smith;73M;Carlos Stone looking over his midget car before a race
Nathan Smith;The Springs;Michael Pickens celebrating after winning the last ever 96 lap midget feature race at Western Springs Speedway.
Indie Ford;Come Play with me;“This image tells a story on how now we don’t enjoy the nature around us instead we’re on our phones, iPads and TVs. I watch my friends sit inside in the dark on their devices rather than engage in nature and the outdoors and wanted to show this reality for so many. Nature is beautiful and we need to get back to enjoying what is all around us. “
Rose Fifita;The forever flower;I noticed this plastic flower during White Sunday practice, the same one that’s been there since I was little. I’d never paid attention to it before, but something about the way the light hit made me stop and grab my camera. It’s small and kind of tacky, but it’s been part of every celebration, every prayer, every memory. Somehow, this faded flower ended up being one of the most real symbols of my Tongan church and all the traditions I grew up with.
Rose Fifita;Future in ceremony;This photo captures young Tongans standing in tradition, framed by light and shadow. It speaks to pride, responsibility, and the power of passing culture down to the next generation.
Rose Fifita;Home is the frame;This is the wall in my family’s home, covered in photos from first birthdays, 21sts, weddings, and everything in between. Each frame holds a memory, a person, a moment we’re proud of. It’s where our culture lives every day, not just in big events, but in how we honour them, remember them, and hang them right where we can see them.
Isabella Nabouta;Na Bati Lailai The Young Warrior;Inspired by Raude by Black Rose, this image of my little brother Jireh in traditional Fijian warrior wear reflects our people’s strength, sacrifice, journey themes echoed in the stormy sea and Jireh’s Cakaudrove heritage
Rose Fifita;He ‘Otua ‘A Tonga (God of Tonga);I took this inside my Tongan church, just as the light fell across the scripture written in our language. It reminded me that faith is not just something we practice, it’s something passed down in the way we speak, worship, and live. Seeing the Word in Tongan reminds me of who I am, and who came before me.
Rose Fifita;Where we gather;I captured this photo at my Tongan church, a place deeply tied to my roots. The glow behind the windows felt like more than a sunset; it felt like culture, pride, and memory shining through. This is where I feel grounded, where my identity is shaped and carried forward a reflection of the light I come from.

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