A CASUAL photograph of a fisherman standing on Warrnambool’s Lady Bay beach is now part of a mobile promotion adorning the side of V/Line trains to lure more metropolitan tourists to the south-west.
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Amateur photographer Alison Toohey of Warrnambool was strolling around the bay one morning earlier this year when she spotted the angler trying his luck.
“I took a couple of shots of his silhouette against the morning sun then picked one to send in for the V/Line competition,” she said.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever won any photography prize. It’s nice to think my work has been used to promote the region.”
Her work accompanies five other images from other amateur photographers in a large banner promotion entitled “Escape to Victoria’s South-west” stuck on the side of a VLocity carriage on runs from Melbourne to Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland.
Other regions and cities including Geelong, Ballarat, Ararat, Bendigo, Albury, Gippsland and Melbourne are also featured in themed promotions carried on six VLocity trains.
Unfortunately, the images won’t be used on long-distance trains like the Melbourne to Warrnambool service. V/Line said the “moving billboards” were designed to reach the bigger population markets.
Transport Minister Terry Mulder said more than 350 entries were submitted in the competition and winning entries captured the passion and pride that regional Victorians had for their communities. “V/Line trains and buses are a safe, economical and easy way for Melburnians to explore regional Victoria,” he said.
The photography promotion follows the November release of “escape” apps for smartphones which has already prompted 3800 downloads.