Restoration Island

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

50th Anniversary – The Australian …

Very gratified to be included at number three out of thirty in ‘The Australian’ newspapers 50th anniversary ‘Heart Of The Nation’ collection today.

The blurb on the title page of the collection reads thus … “Heart Of The Nation – Our best of …
As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we present this gallery of the best of The Weekend Australian Magazine’s photo-feature page, ‘Heart Of The Nation’. A weekly snapshot of modern Australian life, Heart Of The Nation is a showcase for the country’s best photographers.”

Excellent to have my work included amongst a stellar line up of Australia’s top photographers … and many thanks to ‘Heart Of The Nation’ editor Ross Bilton for the inclusion. Would also like to take this opportunity to again thank my subject – David Glasheen – who is still doing it tough on remote Restoration Island off the coast of northern Cape York Peninsula.

Below is a screen shot of my image as displayed in todays ‘The Australian’ 50th anniversary collection.

Image © Brian Cassey

50thAnnivHeartOfTheNationBlog

‘Lost Boy’ in The New Republic …

Great magazine with imaginative layouts and excellent writing – ‘The New Republic” – published in the US and covering politics, culture and the arts, is a breath of fresh air in magazine publishing. Great shame there isn’t a mag like it in Australia.

Have just received a hard copy of the latest September edition with several of my images of Restoration Island ‘stowaway’ David Glasheen accompanying a great piece of writing by journalist Kent Russell. The story – entitled “The Lost Boy of Restoration Island – Is It Possible to Disappear Completely” and scrawled over the pages with crayon – runs over all of twelve pages and utilises one of the nicest and most creative layouts I’ve seen in a magazine. The remainder of the issue is full of similarly great reading again using great layouts. Kudos to ‘The New Republic’.

Kent’s words brilliantly capture the character and essence of island loner David Glasheen and his lifestyle on tiny Restoration Island off the coast of Cape York Peninsula near Lockhart River. Six of my images of David, made on the island, accompany the text.

Although the article is best viewed in the print edition to appreciate the fantastic layout, you can also read Kent’s words and see my images online at http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114549/dave-glasheen-lost-boy-restoration-island

Below is a grab of the first two title pages of the twelve page article in the print edition showing the imaginative layout with just one of my images of David.

Image © Brian Cassey

NewRepublics

Good Weekend … The Last Days of Eden …

The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald weekend mag “Good Weekend” featured Saturday a four page story by Susan Chenery, accompanied by my images, on Restoration Island castaway and all round good guy David Glasheen.

Entitled “The Last Days of Eden” the story told of David’s life of isolation and his current battle to avoid eviction from his island paradise off the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. I’ve been, indeed, fortunate to visit David several times on ‘Resto’  and he has made me most welcome every time.

Below I’ve posted a screen shot of the “Good Weekend” double page spread … and Susan’s story and more of my images can be found on the Sydney Morning Herald web site at … http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-last-days-of-eden-20121008-277yi.html

David’s fight to stay on the island has spread around the planet and much interest has been forthcoming from diverse parts and publications. My images have featured in some interesting countries … also below are just two screen shots of pages from opposite sides of the World … Colombia and Switzerland.

Images of David Glasheen © Brian Cassey