Beyond the lens

KATE Harmon is not your average photographer, she’s a determined inspirational woman who is following her heart.

“I was born in Victoria, but grew up around Queensland,” Kate started.

“My grandfather was in the ministry, so we move every few years.

Dividing their time, Kate found herself living in Harvey Bay the longest, for 20 years.

“Once our grandparents died there was nothing holding us there. Mum grew up in Victoria and she always loved it, so in 2015 we moved.

“It wasn’t the fact we didn’t like Harvey Bay. It was the humidity, we hated it.

“Mum was really particular when she wanted a place. It had to be a town where there weren’t earthquakes, fires, wasn’t prone to flooding and Wonthaggi fitted that mould.

“And we wanted a really good hospital because I was going to go back to work.”

Nursing in Queensland, Kate badly damaged both her shoulders and has since found herself unable to work.

“I worked in a rehab unit. I had a blast – I’d be singing up the hallway, dancing, doing everything I could to make the patients happy because we see them at the worst time in their life.”

A word from a member of staff in 2013 and booking with a psychologist, Kate was tested for autism.

“Being diagnosed with autism wasn’t tragic, it was a relief because life made sense.

“All my struggles. I used to call them volcanic eruptions where I’d suddenly just explode for no reason.

“Once I read and did a lot of crying and talking, I started to find my feet. I started to understand who I was and why I spent most of my life as an outsider looking in.”

April 2015 was an exciting and wonderful time for Kate and her family when they moved to Wonthaggi.

“I share a house with my mum and older brother. We all look after each other, we’ve all had our medical issues. I’ve had thyroid cancer…

“We don’t live together. We share a house, and we support each other, and even though we’ve threatened to move out of home one too many times, in this day and age I think being with family is really important.”

Finding Bass Coast Adult Learning gave Kate a new lease and opportunity to pick up her camera.

“I saw Photography and Friends and then I met Geoff and that changed everything.

“I think the minute he saw me; he saw some something…

“I’ve always been interested in photography and tried it in Harvey Bay, but I didn’t fit in because it was a really clingy group, and I couldn’t find someone to connect to.

“With BCAL, what’s really good is that they don’t care who you are – they accept you for all your flaws, it’s a very safe environment for learning.

“My photography has just taken off and now it’s going to go even further which is really good.

“I love landscapes and I love photographing the beach – I’ll look down and try and find something unusual; but I’ll have a crack at anything. If I’m given a bit of space, a bit of time and I can work my way through it, I can literally achieve anything.”

And anything is true with Kate also versed in multiple musical instruments and having cycled in New Zealand.

“I play the alto sax with the Inverloch Horn Jam, which is kind of like a New Orleans style group; we have a blast. The challenge for me playing on jam is memorising music, and that’s always been a struggle. 

“Part of my autism is my auditory processing disorder.

“I’ve got a hearing aid I wear when I’m out and about in crowds and if I’m at the movies, I’ve got special hearing aids that mute the sound down and they help a lot.

Kate’s shoulder injuries mean she is no longer able to hold anything above her head, even holding her camera or phone in front of her for an extended period of time is impossible.

“I’m also with NDIS. I’ve got a really good support worker who is really chill and got a wicked sense of humour. She pushes my boundaries and she’ll challenge me by suddenly changing what we’re going to do.

“She helps me with my hydro and kills me in the pool, I walk out knackered and that’s her job, whether I like it or not. Leongatha (Swimming Pool) makes the best chips; we have chips and hot chocolate afterwards.”

Kate’s photography book came about through an idea from Geoff Ellis, and grant from Bass Coast Shire Council’s Building Disability Inclusive Businesses and Community Organisations Grants Program.

“We applied and I just let it be,” Kate said.

“I didn’t think about it and then a week before the Pathway Festival I could not sleep, and I thought stuff it it’s 3.30am, I’ll go and check my emails.

“I saw the email saying congratulations you’ve been successful in getting the grant and I nearly fell out of bed.”

Excited Kate opted not to wake her mum and waited until morning to tell her family and Geoff.

“I’m doing the book to inspire and encourage people who have a disability no matter what they have or where they come from, if you have a little bit of faith, you have support, you believe and you have a dream anything is possible.

“You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.”

From crashing waves at Kilcunda to the mist, carved out rock and shipwreck at Kitty Miller Bay, Kate explores what nature has to offer in her photography, along with recognisable buildings around town.

“Cape Liptrap on a clear day is absolutely gorgeous. Can you believe we live here?”

Kate’s photography book will be available in December and is available to pre order via email knh73@bigpond.com.

To try your hand at photography pop into BCAL with your camera (or phone) Wednesdays from 9.30am to 12pm (every second on the holidays).