Kaitaia, New Zealand
James was the Founding President of the Victoria Maori Wardens, a youth community engagement program a team of Maori and Pacific Islander community elders, who walk the streets in uniform, patrolling the shopping plaza and surrounding transport hubs on varying days of the week. James is also an active Community Member on the Cultural Diversity and Safer Community Portfolios at Wyndham Council.

Melbourne, Australia 
I  reached out to a couple of CFA volunteers to include them in the Faces of Wyndham project, to show the faces of a couple of the bravest members of our community. I wanted this portrait to be dramatic to show the situation that these brave men and women face as volunteers while protecting our homes. I usually only post one image per person. In this case, I just had to post two. Born and raised in Werribee Leigh currently lives in Tarneit. Leigh says that he was raised to always help in the community and so he became the youngest ground manager in VFL history and has been a volunteer firefighter in the CFA for the past 17years. Being apart of such a great organisation was a huge eye-opening, Leigh has been involved in the 2009 Black Saturday Bush fires and recently the 2019/2020 East Gippsland Bush fires. Thank you, Leigh and all the other CFA and other rescue service volunteers.

Chandigarh, India 
Mon is Sikh by religion and says that she is a true Punjabi by heart! She is Loud! Alive & a giver. Mon runs her own driving school and she love’s volunteering for a couple of nonprofit organizations which empower women & help domestic violence victims to become survivors. Mons’s a strong believer in destiny and she feels all our thoughts and decision are all made cause we were meant to make them. Mon was an education & Immigration consultant in India and that’s what attracted her about Australia. Mon migrated with her husband to Melbourne on 12th Nov 2005. Mon had her fair share of hardships. She says she migrated at a time when she felt Australia was very different. The multicultural society seemed only a word used in the books or used for advertising rather than actually personal acceptance. Her struggles were not limited to gaining employment but she also suffered two miscarriages, has been through depression and contemplated ending her life. Mon did not give up and said to herself there always light at the end of the tunnel. Mon is now a blessed Mum of two sons. Time and time Mon was hit with one thing or the other and she says the biggest one being her husband diagnosed with a rare blood disease which is non-curable. Mon, however, hasn’t given up hope and wishes for a cure for her husband. Some of Mon’s achievement -Entrepreneur of the month awarded by Indian Businesses Women Network (IBWN) -Women of Wyndham (Wow) champion award -AusMumpreneur nomination Mon thinks the real achievement is that She has become a better person and reached a place where she could help others and make a difference in other people’s life. Mon aspires to Live and let live! Accept and adapt to new and different cultures.

Bangerang tribe, North East Victoria, Australia 
Joshua is a Koorie man from the Bangerang tribe in North East Victoria. His fathers' ancestors are from the Bundjalung nation of Northern NSW and his mother hails from Scottish and Welsh ancestry. Joshua has lived in Werribee for just over four years and is proud to call Wyndham his home within the Kulin Nation. This portrait was a long time in the making it was taken prior to the stage 4 lockdown. I have delayed sharing it until the HOMELAND project by the Wyndham City Council was up and running. I have been conscious for some time that I did not have an indigenous person featured in the Faces of Wyndham. I had tried for many months with no success. I was introduced to Joshua when we were both protesting the proposed toxic dump site in Wyndham. Joshua is the perfect candidate for my first indigenous portrait as he straddles both worlds so well. I have included two portraits to emphasize this. In one he looks like an English gentleman and the other a very proud Koorie man. Every detail of the indigenous portrait is symbolic of his Koorie culture.

Australia
Forty years of service with Victoria Police, a Thirty year army reserve veteran, the youngest ever member of Vic Pol search and rescue, a teacher of law at the Police Academy, theatre performer and Santa. Ron has worn many hats in his life but the one he has worn most is that of a dedicated and passionate human being. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has fought harder to make the lives of those in the community better. Shot in the line of duty, Ron carries 37 bullet fragments in his head, when a killer on the run opened fire on him. He carries the scars both physically and mentally. Ron wasn't expected to last the ambulance journey to the hospital that fateful night. He proved them wrong and is still here with us to inspire us, to show us what true courage is. As a PTSD sufferer Ron has spent the last 6 years fighting to have service dogs like his best mate Yogi available for all emergency services. Personnel suffering with PTSD who need a best friend like Yogi. Ron credits Yogi with saving his life at least 5 times in the last 4 years, he wakes him from his night terrors and he picks Ron up when he is feeling down. Sadly Yogi will have to say goodbye to Ron one day soon, as Ron is terminally ill with cancer. The battle that Ron is currently in even he can't win. But Ron is not bitter nor sad, he is still fighting for those that need help, that need a voice, fighting to support his community with his best friend Yogi. Their story is one of hope and courage. You can read more of Ron's story here: https://www.theage.com.au/.../they-came-to-farewell-ron...

Basrah, Iraq
Azhar was forced to move after his home got bombed and his aunt and brother got killed. He grew up in a small town of Nasiriyah next to the ancient Ur - home land of Abraham. He got his degree in teaching and interpreting English and used to work with Australian military forces in Iraq. After his contract was finished he took a year to live in Ukraine and study Russian and Ukrainian languages. Since his home country was unstable, torn apart by endless war and he was offered humanitarian support from Australia, he decided to try and settle in this country. In order to gain humanitarian visa he had to spend a year in Jordan where he met his future wife.