Goonan captured Scales Aquarium and Reptile co-owner David Castley getting up close with three-week-old central bearded dragons. “By putting the dragons on his hand gives the picture a sense of scale,” she says. “It gives a human element by putting him in it as well, but keeps the focus on the dragons.”

It is hard to capture Anzac Day in a different way every year but Goonan was determined to show Don Dennis’ past as a war veteran. Using the silhouette of an army Catafalque cadet allowed her to show Mr Dennis’ history as a soldier while illustrating the meaning of Anzac Day — “to reflect and remember”.

Adrian Baker’s Chiltern ghost tours scream eerie and Goonan wanted to use light to show this. She featured the moon to add intrigue while a flash and the street lamp drew readers’ eyes from the moon to the man. “It also makes it more interesting because you wonder if the light is on inside and what is going on in the building,” she says.

Goonan wanted to try something different to capture Justin Godfrey’s mental strength as a paratriathlete. By digitally altering this image, she could show the three different sets of equipment he used in each discipline. “I wanted to do something dark and moody, so Eastern Hill at dusk seemed the perfect setting,” she says.

This was one of the bigger fires at Nail Can Hill this year. “I like it because it’s clean at the front but you can see the drama unfolding behind. The guy who is waving also gives you the sense of urgency. It’s a good example of how they work as a team to get the job done,” Goonan says.

The first day of spring symbolises rebirth and reinvigoration. Goonan captured Ella Pollard, 4, holding canola to signify new growth on the Border, while the lambs were a symbol of new life. “A 15 millimetre lens was perfect because the curve angles allowed me to get up close while still getting a lot of the scene in,” Goonan says.

Wodonga Hospital experienced a shortage of walking frames this year. Goonan said the signs were an important visual element but she was mindful to ensure the people were the focus. “I under-exposed the scene slightly and used fill flash on the subjects to make them stand out,” she says.

Adventurer Tim Cope learnt to ride a horse in the high country before he completed the Genghis Khan Trail. Goonan used the hills in the background to mirror the landscape. “I didn’t want him to look at camera because it was a solo journey,” she says.