Missioning on the Fraser Coast

Earlier this year I decided to start an Instagram page to share some of the photos taken by locals and visitors to the Fraser Coast.

Instagram screenshot: @frasercoastmissions

There are multiple tourism industry, council, state and corporate profiles that do the same thing, so why add @frasercoastmissions to the mix?

Firstly, my family and I are new to the area so it has been a really great way to learn about our new home. I have seen and been tagged in photos from across the region of places perhaps considered ‘off the beaten track’ that I wouldn’t normally have heard about.

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The COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on any attempt to fully explore the region when we first arrived on the Fraser Coast, so the interaction with other Instagram users has helped me learn a little bit more about the community and feel part of the ‘conversation’.

View this post on Instagram

Nice spot for a sit and think! #TorquayBeach #herveybay . 📸 @frasercoastmissions . . . ✅ If you want us to feature your photo, use #frasercoastmissions,tag @frasercoastmissions or send a DM. ✅ Photos must be taken on the Fraser Coast – including Fraser Island. 🚫 NO PHOTOS TAKEN OFF THE INTERNET – SHARE YOUR PHOTOS. 📣 Let’s get the 🌍 talking about our slice of paradise. . . . #frasercoastmissions #frasercoast #herveybaylife #torquay #beach #mainbeach #blueskies #bench #parkbench #australia #queensland #relaxation #meditation #observation #outdoors #freshair

A post shared by Fraser Coast Missions (@frasercoastmissions) on Aug 17, 2020 at 6:08am PDT

By sharing photos taken by locals and visitors to the region, the page also gives people an organic sense of the area. The photos displayed on @frasercoastmissions are not communicating a corporate message. In that way, I hope people who stumble upon the profile might think, “wow that’s a beautiful place” or “those people are having such a great time at Lake Mackenzie, we should go there.”

While I am a very amateur photographer who pretty much only takes photos for the fun of it and to clog up my SD card and phone memory, I have been able to find a whole host of really talented photographers based here on the Fraser Coast.

Some of them offer professional packages and appear to get up early almost every morning to snap an amazing sunrise or hunt down the perfect spot for a golden sunset – flooding our timelines with positive images that inspire and motivate us to be better people, see the world differently and respect our natural surroundings and wildlife.

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Sunset over the impressive Urangan pier in #HerveyBay. The pier was used in the loading and offloading of cargo for the region. It’s over 100 years old and extends hundreds of meters out to sea – and that’s after being shortened! It’s now a haven for local fisherman and always has a stream of people walking along, exercising or just looking for the best view the bay. . 📸: @frasercoastmissions . . . ✅ If you want us to feature your photo, use #frasercoastmissions,tag @frasercoastmissions or send a DM. ✅ Photos must be taken on the Fraser Coast – including Fraser Island. 🚫 NO PHOTOS TAKEN OFF THE INTERNET – SHARE YOUR PHOTOS. 📣 Let’s get the 🌍 talking about our slice of paradise. . . . #frasercoastmissions #frasercoast #uranganpier #travel #bestbeaches #queensland #australia #fishing #tourism #wonderlust #sunset #beach #oceansunset #discoverqueensland #picoftheday #adventure

A post shared by Fraser Coast Missions (@frasercoastmissions) on May 30, 2020 at 8:00pm PDT

We really do live in a beautiful part of the world and sometimes we just need a little reminding.

The Hervey Bay beaches, Fraser Island (K’gari) and visiting whales are known across the world. They offer something unique, picturesque and happy.

But so does the drive between Hervey Bay and Burrum Heads, especially when the area is awash with native butterflies!

All photos and videos on @frasercoastmissions, if not taken by myself, are reposted with permission. I believe it is really important for people’s skills to be acknowledged and if a repost gets that person an extra follower or helps a local photographer book a family shoot – even better!

By Shaun Ryan