On Photography - See, Feel, Connect - Colin Pantall (Thu 22 Oct 2015)

Jenny and Joanne - Glen Coe / Scotland (Sun 04 Sep 2005)

Colin Pantall on Photography:

You see, you feel, you connect. That's how photography works.

via The Best Photographers are Stupid? Kind of. by Colin Pantall.

Just loved the way the late afternoon light fell on the photo.

On Photography and Memories - Streetshooter (Wed 21 Oct 2015)

Jenny and Geoff - I remember it being very hot - Prague (Wed 30 Aug 2005)

Streetshooter on Photography and Memories:

Photography is one of the seductive means of making memories. So I wonder why many aren’t aware that they are making memories. [..]

What’s really going on is that you are making memories and maybe just maybe those photos will have importance to someone. [..]

[during the Vietnam War] I became acutely aware that photography is about memories. It’s about other shit too, but memories are the main source of image information transference.[..]

See, they are not just my memories. [..] All will be forgotten of the pain that still hurts 45 years later.

the photos, well… they are just memories…………..

via Streets of Philadelphia … A Visual Diary … Page 25 … Street … Memories of Future Past … Fuji X100s by Streetshooter.

The very reason I bought a small digital camera in Dec 2000. And just as important as recording memories, you need to make the memories happen. You have to live while you can. And we did just that. Thanks Jenny and Jo.

On Passion, Committment, Control and Ability - The Gerro Factor - The Advertiser / Reece Homfray (Wed 03 Jul 2013)

Joanne and Jenny – 2004 IDBF Worlds 500m Premier Mixed Podium - Qingpu / Shanghai (Fri 22 Oct 2004)
Dave Sanders (*) talks about Simon Gerrans (*) and the The Gerro Factor where words like passion (*), committment (*), control (*) and ability (*) are used:

If you’ve got that passion and commitment – we now call it the Gerro Factor – if a kid’s got the Gerro Factor he’ll get somewhere.

Dave expands:

Simon doesn’t have to be gifted to do what he does, he just does everything he can control to the best of his ability. Which is train right, eat right, sleep right, recover right - they’re the things he can control.

via Simon Gerrans' coach tells of how Tour de France leader's amazing work ethic led to yellow jersey (*) by Reece Homfray (*).

Grace and Jenny - Manuka / Canberra (Fri 28 Dec 2003)

Grace and Jenny - Manuka / Canberra (Fri 28 Dec 2003)
Grace and Jenny prepare Tim's 40th Birthday Cake.

Jenny - Suzhou / China (Tue 16 Nov 2004)

Jenny - Suzhou / China (Tue 16 Nov 2004)
Three years ago just now, Jenny left us.

We miss her and we will always remember her. We still love her dearly and she lives on through our conversations, memories and thoughts.

Jenny loved to travel and she loved an Atlas and a Globe.

Towards the end, she told me that she would miss the opportunity to travel with us. I will always remember this and I try to appreciate every moment and opportunity away from home, even though I am not a natural traveller. She travels with us everywhere and in every thought.

We are off to Hong Kong tomorrow for the World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships. I will make sure a few travel photos appear here, as well as the usual updates.

We live on in her Afterglow ..

Afterglow - INXS - Letterman
Afterglow (*) by INXS:

Here I am,
Lost in the ashes of time,
But who wants tomorrow,
In between,
Longing to hold you again,
I'm caught in your shadow.
I'm losing control.

My mind drifts away,
We only have today.

Touch me and I will follow,
In your afterglow.
Heal me from all this sorrow,
As I let you go.
I will find my way
When I see your eyes,
Now I'm living,
In your afterglow.

Jenny - Geneva / Switzerland (Aug 2005)

Jenny and Joanne - St George Private Hospital (Tue 16 Jun 2009)

Jenny and Joanne - St George Private Hospital (Tue 16 Jun 2009)
Three years ago about now.

Jenny and Joanne doing the measurements for their 2009 Australian Dragon Boat Team Uniforms. Jenny had withdrawn from the Team a week earlier when a 4cm Brain Tumor had been diagnosed, but was allowed to complete her uniform order. The next day Jenny had the tumor removed and 12 days later she left us.

Jo and I were able to have Jenny's uniform order processed and we were presented with her Uniform with the rest of the Masters Team before we departed for Prague.

It is easy to forget these kind of moments, particularly when lost in the haze of grief, and the trauma that goes with the risk and mistakes that one takes when trying to find purpose and a new place in the world.

For those I have hurt or confused (and I know there are many) on this emotional rollercoaster, I apologise. The way I have acted is the best I could manage under the circumstances.

It is times like this I am glad that I have these photos to help remember the moments that shaped our lives.

Joanne and Jenny - St George Private Hospital (Thu 17 Aug 2006)

Joanne and Jenny - St George Private Hospital (Thu 17 Aug 2006)

Jenny and Joanne - Yu Garden / Shanghai (Wed 17 Nov 2004)

Jenny and Joanne - Yu Garden / Shanghai (Wed 17 Nov 2004)
Just found this evening. A very nice surprise.

Jo and I would return here in May 2010.

The 300D did a remarkable job to capture this photo in very low light.

Jenny and Grace - Bronte (Sat 14 Sep 2003)

Jenny and Grace - Bronte (Sat 14 Sep 2003)

Jenny and Geoff - Yallingup / Margaret River / Western Australia (Wed 08 Oct 2008)

Jenny and Geoff - Yallingup / Margaret River / Western Australia (Wed 08 Oct 2008)
Another time. Another place. Another life.

We were lucky to have this time with Jenny. A beautiful sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Birgit and Jenny - Bronte Beach / Sydney (Mon 15 Oct 2001)

Birgit and Jenny - Bronte Beach / Sydney (Mon 15 Oct 2001)

The Climb - Jenny's Amazing Climb

The Climb - Jenny's Amazing Climb
The Climb - Jenny Petterson (Video)

Dragons Abreast Ausrtralia Seminar
Cancer Council Queensland
Tuesday 31st August, 2010

Dragons Abreast Sydney is not only just about paddling. They also have a craft group which Jenny and Joanne attended regularly. After Jenny’s passing, the Craft Group organised a beautiful scrap book album (see picasa) with contributions from the dragon boat community which included photos and memories. We have a copy (see picasa) of it here today if you would like to look at it in more detail at the end of the session.

We have put together a small video of the pages from the scrap book album with music from an inspiring and appropriate song titled “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus (lyrics and video).

As can be seen by our annual trip to the mountains, the climb can be taken quite literally. It can also be a metaphor for other journeys through life. It could be your paddling journey, it could be your journey with an illness, it could be the journey of Dragons Abreast Australia and its members.

Anyway, this video represents Jenny’s Climb and is a tribute to Jenny, the Dragon Boating Community and in particular Dragons Abreast Australia who provided the opportunities for Jenny's AMAZING CLIMB..