Jason Westcott
Navy, Videographer - Photographer
Jason’s formative years were varied and interesting. He was born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where his father worked for the Australian government. When he was seven years old, the family moved from the tropical heat to the icy winters of Canberra.
Growing up in Canberra saw Jason follow a popular path, choosing to enlist in the navy when he was just twenty years old. He had always been drawn to the military as his grandfather was in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and his stepfather was conscripted to National Service during the Vietnam War.
Jason’s role as a Boatswain’s Mate meant that he could work on just about any seagoing platform. A few years after his posting, he was given the extended role of Ship’s Photographer and provided the navy with photos.
During his time in the service, Jason was deployed in 2005 to assist victims when an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The people of Banda Aceh recorded the largest number of deaths and the Royal Australian Navy was deployed to assist in the humanitarian response. As well as supporting the clean up of towns completely devastated by the earthquake, Jason used his camera to document the journey and to send photos to the naval administration in Australia.
Jason’s second major deployment was to the Solomon Islands, in a peacekeeping capacity, while their government elections were in progress.
His final posting saw Jason sent to Cairns in Far North Queensland. This was also where he chose to make his home upon being discharged.
As he settled back into civilian life, Jason used the skills he had obtained in the navy and started his own business as a photographer. Beginning with wedding photography, he then moved to commercial work, particularly in advertising. Jason also collaborated on film documentaries, focusing on such things as the fishing industry in Karumba, in the gulfland area of Queensland.
However his heart, and his extended family, remained in Papua New Guinea. Jason was in the process of moving there from Australia, when, in 2020, Covid-19 changed his plans. He was working in his home country when the pandemic broke out but the first anyone heard of its existence was when the borders to Australia were about to be closed.
He returned to Australia but kept the vision of Papua New Guinea in his sights and in his mind.
“I’m now planning on going to live in Rabaul in New Guinea and will work there in advertising. It’s just taking off and photography, especially filmmaking, is the way of the future in that country. I’m also interested in teaching photography up there. Everyone has a camera on their phone but they don’t necessarily know the basics of how to use it. Although Covid changed my plans, I’m still very keen to get back there, where I have family.”
Unfortunately, during the pandemic Jason’s dad became sick and passed away. During this time, Jason moved back to Canberra to support and be with him.
The wheel has certainly turned full circle, with Jason and his dad able to be together in Canberra, and now with Jason choosing to return to the country of his birth.
