LaVonne Bobongie Photography | Public figure

LaVonne Bobongie Photography

Phone: +61 418 285 916

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15.01.2022 This weekend Australian South Sea Islanders will gather together and remember, honor and celebrate all those who have come before us. In this the 25th year since federal recognition of Australian South Sea Islander People as a distinct and unique people. In February the State Library of Queensland opened an exhibition called Plantation Voices, it’s still exhibiting until Sept 8. What makes this so very special is that it was curated by Imelda Miller, an Australian South Sea ...Islander powerhouse! They commissioned me to contribute to the exhibition as well as document the Australian South Sea Islander Community for the year. I haven’t spent enough time stopping and actually thinking about how very special it all is. Every time I do it ends in tears. Some sad thinking about those who aren’t here anymore some happy thinking of them again but mostly tears of gratitude. For what they endured and came through for us. I have a series of 3 photos in the exhibition, one is my of Dad, one is of me taken by my son Tai and one is of Tai. We’re all standing in a cane field in Farleigh, Mackay Qld. The field is next to a church where my Grandma Florence and Grandad Samson Bobongie use to play the piano and organ in. It’s near fields where my Dad Dennis use to cut cane when he was 14yrs old with Grandad. Near fields where my Great Grandad Andrew Bobongie was taken to and made to work after he was stolen from his island home. These 3 photos honor my Dad and everything he’s done from cutting cane when he was 14 going back to school to complete yr 12 when he was 21 then studying overseas and completing 2 degrees and owning his own business. Everything he has done has paved the way for me and then passed on to my son. The future is bright for the next generations because of those who came before us. These fields are the placeholders of hardship, pain and suffering. They are also reminders of our resilience. Our strength. Our courage and endurance to overcome whatever obstacles that were placed in front of us. We are a thriving people. Our past shapes who we are. We will always think about those who’ve come before us but especially this weekend we say we SEE you, we HONOR you and we THANK you. We will never forget. : mine & State Library of Queensland

13.01.2022 This weekend was pretty epic! After months of planning, an online heat, a live heat and 2 days of semis at Muster, Gympie Music Muster Talent Search has a Junior Winner and an Opens Winner! Before I sleep for a week I just want to acknowledge and shout out some amazing people who gave their time and effort to make sure our Talent Search Artists were heard and could put their best foot forward! Firstly my team! Tai Bobongie, Dita Southwood and Mason Ashin!! Your willingness to... jump in and do whatever needed to be done made this weekend go seamlessly! The amazing band! Vaughan Jones, Damon Joel, Benji and Soni and Brendan Radford! Your talent and support of the Artists was something really special to watch! Thanks for all the time and effort you put in learning over 60 songs! And lastly the judges and MCs! Alethea Beetson (BIGSOUND/ Horizon Festival), Lincoln Savage (Yonder/BSAF) Tracy Robinson (Tracy & the Big D), Nathan Marshall (Soundmart) and MCs Dr Daz and Darryn Robinson! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in this weekend and for some of you the months of judging you have been involved in! Emily and I really wanted to focus on creating pathways, opportunities and connections for the Artists and I know we have with the help of you here this weekend and also all the other judges Phaedra Watts (Nannup Music Festival) Roger Corbett (The Academy) and Emily (Gympie Music Muster) involved over the last couple of months! Now to sleep! #keenasmustered #talentsearch #didntgettolinedancetho #nexttime Tai Bobongie, Alethea Beetson See more

11.01.2022 Damn Fantastic Negrito killing it at Bluesfest Byron Bay Always so great seeing him work!! #fantasticnegrito #bluesfestbyronbay #calledeveryoneimmigrants #iwastheonlyonewhowooed #winsbestoutfitaswell

11.01.2022 So excited to have some commissioned work in this exhibition about my Australian South Sea Islander community curated by the amazing Imelda Miller!! The community celebration is this Sat from 2-5pm at the State Library of Queensland come hang out! Theres also a white glove experience as well which is always really special! #assi #assi25years #blackbirding #ourstoryourway #australiansouthseaislanders #25yrssincerecognition #iwas12whenthishappened #dreamjob