Philip Down, of Speed, is one of 12 winners of Rural Aid’s 2026 Spirit of the Bush photography competition, celebrating the people, landscapes, resilience and everyday moments that capture the true spirit of rural and regional Australia.

Since launching in 2020, the competition has built a powerful visual archive of rural life, capturing the resilience, humour, hardship, pride and beauty that define the bush.

This year, photographers were encouraged to share images reflecting the challenges, determination, people and natural beauty of rural and regional Australia, helping bring the country to the city through the power of photography.

Each of the 12 winning photographers receive a $250 prepaid Visa card, with their winning images also featuring in Rural Aid’s 2027 Spirit of the Bush calendar.

Rural Aid chief executive John Warlters said the competition provided an important opportunity to showcase the people and places that made rural and regional Australia so special.

“The Spirit of the Bush competition gives us a wonderful window into rural and regional Australia, the people, the landscapes, the challenges and the moments of joy that make life in the bush so unique,” he said.

“These photographs tell stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated.”

The entire September 30, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!