From lens to canvas

Each click of the camera immortalised a snippet of her story, preserving it for generations to come.

However, there’s one image that holds a special place in Marion’s heart, and inspired by its significance, she embarked on a unique endeavour: recreating it as a painting.

“I remember adults calling him J.A. or Dougo,” Marion said.

“I lived on Victoria St here in Shepparton, and John Douglas resided next door to Chris and Lynn Clarke just a few doors down from me, whose company I often enjoyed during my childhood.

“It was a different time when bonfires and fireworks were a common sight across from your home, but I remember John popping up to our house, asking my mum if he could take my photo for the paper at times, and she always agreed.

“The first time I appeared in the News, I would have been six or seven years old.”

The original photograph that Marion has recreated as a painting captures her as a young child twirling a hula-hoop in front of her house.

From an era where black and white photos were the norm, today, the painting depicts a much brighter and more vibrant scene.

“I was studying with an artist called Nafisa Naomi doing portrait classes. She had exhibited extensively overseas and in Australia and had won the packers’ prize for the Archibald 2010,” she said.

“She would have me crying with her demand, you know like, getting it right kind of thing, but that’s why I can do what I can do now.

“We had to paint a portrait, so I decided on this shot, but it would have been pretty ordinary left as is, so I decided to base it around a stage.”

The painting shows the same little girl from the image but painted in colour, and it’s set on a stage with curtains to the sides.

Her shoes, ruby red just like Dorothy’s from The Wizard of Oz, hopscotch markings and her son’s cat perched on a pedestal like a circus lion.

A magnolia branch, a nod to another image captured by John Douglas, a magpie symbolising Marion’s love for birds, a radiant sun representing brightness and joy, the hobby-horse she never had, complete with the News banner in the bottom right corner.

“It’s got a lot of meaning and heritages in it,” Marion said.

“I see a lot more than anyone else would when looking at it and there is a lot of luck behind it and a lot of blood, sweat and tears in it, too, but when I look at it, I feel happy.

“I’m grateful for the fact that Mr Douglas asked me to have my photo taken at times. It’s given me so many memories, and I’d never have this piece if this photo was never taken.”

John A. Douglas joined the News staff in 1948 and left in 1958 to run a pet shop on High St.

He rejoined the News in 1961 and worked as chief photographer until the late ’70s.

He won the Victorian Country Press ‘photo of the year’ four times.

He was highly regarded in the community for his photographic skills at the News and for his coverage of weddings and other events.