Creative Artist - AU (2020-02)

As the crow flies, Gary’s studio is

little more than a stone’s throw from my

own, for Gary considers the whole of

Yellagonga Regional Park as his studio,

and with my own studio also very close to

the same park, we share much in common

as we both use it for inspiration, albeit

using different artistic mediums, Gary with

his camera and me with my sketchbook.

All of this makes this one of the easiest

My Space articles I’ve done. Like me,

Gary lives in a suburb that backs onto

this extensive regional park and wetlands

here in the northern suburbs of Perth, in

Western Australia.

I first met Gary through my wife Dot,

who as a local Councillor had assisted

Gary to get a small area of the park

close to the lake fenced off while the

Rainbow Bee-eaters were breeding in their

burrows close to a well-used pathway.

Gary’s photos of the birds coming and

going were quite exceptional, and his

photographic recording gave much

impetus to have his request granted by

the council to fence off the area during

breeding season.

Bee-eaters, like many other species, are

seasonal visitors to the wetlands. Visiting

in spring and departing in March, they

excavate their nest chamber, breeding and

fledging their young before moving on.

Gary often cycles on the dual use

path that encircles most of the lakes

and swamps, always looking for that

photo opportunity, but can also be found

launching his small boat with a friend as

My Space – with Greenwood WA

photographer Gary Tate

Gary Tate

Aerialattack

MY SPACE

60 artist

BY DErEk L NEwtoN

Not if I see you first