heart attack

Millionaire Castaway … David Glasheen Update …

… very nice run in last weekends edition of the Courier Mail that featured my images … old and brand new … of old friend ‘Ex Millionaire to island Castaway’ David Glasheen. David lost a literal fortune during the 1987 economic crash and then chose to ‘drop out’ and live a solitary secluded life on historic Restoration Island off the coast of far north Queensland. 

His story and my photographs of David spread World wide after I visited him three times on his island … (named Restoration Island by Captain Bligh when he landed there during his epic 4000 mile open boat journey following the HMS Bounty mutiny) … back in 2010 and 2011 for News Ltd, the New York Times and Fairfax.

David later published a book about his life entitled “The Millionaire Castaway” which sold a quarter of a million copies around the planet.

Recently I learnt that David (now 81) had suffered a heart attack and had left the island for a bed in Cairns Hospital. At the hospital I was told he had just been discharged and I found him at the nearby Red Cross accomodation.  We chatted about old times and I asked if I could make yet another newer portrait … which he readily agreed to. 

This portrait (top image) is the result. David has always had a story to tell so I passed on details of his current trauma and story to Courier Mail gun journalist Michael Madigan (who I have worked with on many stories previously) … and passed on David’s new portrait and the earlier 2010/2011 pics of David on his remote inland retreat to the Courier picture desk.

The result … a front page pointer, Davids portrait on page 15 and a spread across pages 36 and 61. Happy with that … huge thanks to Michael for his brilliant words … and, of course, David who is now recovering with his family ‘down south’ (but really hoping to soon get back to his island home.)

Read David’s story in the Courier Mail here … https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/millionaire-castaway-david-glasheen-seeks-a-companion-for-qld-tropical-island/news-story/2c4f77dd13fe0a8388b533e3a53e460

Images © Brian Cassey

“Do Not Resuscitate” … Peter Potter …

I’ve known the skills of Kuranda master ceramicist Peter “Potter” Thompson for some time … but up until a couple of weeks ago had never met him. I did try and arrange a portrait session with Peter a couple of years back but at the time he politely demurred.

Peter has been building his rainforest studio practice for 50 years and is amongst Australia’s most accomplished practitioners of wood-fired pottery, his cutting edge work gracing major galleries far and wide.

His workshop ‘Five Treasures’ is where he creates and fires his Orient inspired creations in expansive high temperature kilns fired by locally collected timber, following Taoist principles. His passion for each and every piece is obvious.

Peter’s outwardly quiet demeanour belies a no nonsense approach to both his work and his life … and he portrays an impeccably wry sense of humour.

The harshness of his work environment has impacted his health … and Peter has survived three heart attacks over the last twenty years. In true Peter style the tattoo above his heart (and pacemaker) means ‘Do Not Resuscitate’. Chemical emissions from the kiln firings have also impacted his lung capacity.

A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to Peter by Ian Whittaker who has authored a book on his life and work. Peter showed me around his studio home, workshop and kilns as he earnestly talked about his magic pottery … and his upcoming hospital stay for yet another major operation.

Peter allowed me to make a series of portraits … and this one (below) I believe most accurately shows his complex character and environment as his life as a potter encircles him.

Thank You Peter … good luck with the latest operation.

Image © Brian Cassey