During an emotional moment at hospital with her grandmother, Aimee Sluga captured a photo epitomising the heartbreak of dementia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So intimate and moving was the picture, the 18-year-old and her family thought long and hard before entering it in the renowned Head On awards.
But exposing their story was the right decision; giving rise to a health issue and winning the young Yackandandah photographer her first major accolade.
"It was so sad seeing grandma like that," Aimee said.
"I think the photo is just showing what can happen, and I want people to be more aware about caring for their loved ones.
"I found out I was a finalist, and we went to the awards - I didn't hear them say my name, but when my family started screaming I knew I'd won, and I was so excited."
On May 4 in Sydney, 'The last goodbye' was announced as the winner of The Head On Student Prize 2019 out of 20 finalists, and hundreds of other entries from around Australia.
Aimee's synopsis was simple; 'My grandma was brought into the hospital with severe pressure sores, dementia, pneumonia and weighing only 45 kg. She is completely reliant on nurses and no longer knows who I am'.
Aimee's father Charles said his mother, who is out of hospital, would be proud of her granddaughter if she knew of the prize.
"As emotional and powerful it is, there is also a beauty to it in the soft colours and the composition," he said.
"It was judged by 10 professional photographers in the 10th year of the awards.
In other news:
"It was a great affirmation that this is the direction Aimee wants to go in."
Mr Sulga is a painter and his wife Nancy is a photographer, and they opened Sluga Gallery in Yackandandah seven years ago.
Aimee said it was their gift of a camera a couple years ago that really sparked her ambitions for photojournalism.
"Mum helped me learn how to use my camera and I've continued learning different skills," she said.
"I'm in year 12 at Catholic College Wodonga, and I think next year I'll take a gap year, but I want to travel the world and do documentary and wildlife photography about issues I care about, like climate change and poaching."
Aimee said she was excited her photo would be on display in an exhibition in Sydney.
"It was my first photography competition, and it was pretty exciting to have won," she said.
"Mum and dad have been really supportive and proud."