Donaghadee woman wins COPNI annual Christmas photography competition
Donaghadee woman Julie Maxwell has won the Commissioner for Older People’s popular annual Christmas photography competition.
This year’s Christmas card photo competition was inspired by the Commissioners work on tackling ageism.
For the ageing population here in Northern Ireland, the competition was not only a chance to show off their photography skills but also to celebrate all that is wonderful about the third age.
Julie’s festive photograph of her 91-year-old father, Graham, enjoying time spent in his garden and greenhouse turned-Santa’s-Grotto, encapsulated this year’s theme of ‘advantAGE’, perfectly demonstrating the advantages of getting older.
The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch said: “This year we received an extremely high number and standard of entries, and it was a very difficult decision to choose just one entry.
“But among the impressive photos, one really stood out for me.
“Graham’s positive attitude towards ageing really came across to me in the picture. Despite hardships he continues to spend time doing the things he enjoys and clearly has a zest for life.
“This was perfectly captured by Julie in the photograph.”
Julie who has won a £200 gift card of her choice, along with her winning photo featuring on the Commissioner’s Christmas card, shared her interpretation of this year’s theme which she captured in the snapshot.
She said: “Dad loves his garden, but in later years, due to poor mobility, he gardens in his greenhouse, potting up little plants and growing tomatoes.”
“Once winter sets in and ‘greenhouse days’ are over, Dad reads his gardening magazines and plans for the next year.
“He loves Christmas, so we decided to turn his winter greenhouse into a ‘Santa’s Grotto Winter Wonderland’, to brighten winter days, keep his greenhouse alive and celebrate his love of Christmas.”
“We hung seed packets on pegs reminding Dad of the days when Christmas cards were strung up and to encourage his positivity of springtime gardening again.
“So he is pictured enjoying a cup of tea in his Santa’s grotto. We included little memories of Mum there too. He just loves it and is inviting friends’ round to visit!”
