Rowdy Travis

Based near Springsure, Central Queensland, Rowdy Travis is on a quest to document the inspiring lives of those living and thriving in the bush. While growing up on a 250 000 acre cattle property in Central Queensland, Rowdy was constantly surrounded by good, honest and hardworking people.

“I don’t ever recall seeing a man without skin taken off his hands or knuckles bare from a day of honest work. My Father and Husband’s calloused hands document exactly that.”

“From the wildness of my own barefoot children to paddocks littered with a team of bush horses, or the tips of a crop ready to harvest as it’s caressed by the afternoon sun. I’d like to think I find inspiration from the nostalgia of a simple country life.”

As kids, we’d spend our days galloping horses bareback through the sandy creek that caressed the property. We’d make a handmade sling shot out of a green sapling and tuck it down the back of our handme- down shorts before we’d race home to climb the enchanting forest of the old mulberry tree. We had a curfew of 6pm, which I followed loosely. It would allow us enough time to do jobs, shower and be seated at the kitchen table ready to be served up a home cooked dinner by Mum.

During my primary school years, I’d argue over wagging a day of school to help Dad pull bulls at the end of the season. Two stints droving cattle while on the back of a fast paint pony and a couple trips south working for a cutting horse trainer, it was clear I had horse shit on the brain. As much as I loved home, funnily enough I couldn’t wait to leave.

After completing a school-based traineeship as a Veterinary Nurse, I bided my time, turned eighteen and saved enough money to purchase a one-way ticket to Canada. On an international agricultural exchange program, I spent the best part of a year living and working on a community grazing lease, followed by another position at one of Canada’s largest western stores. The opportunities and worldly connections this provided was second to none. Canada blessed me with life experience and an incredibly supportive Husband whom I now share with three amazing barefoot bush kids. I still call Canada my second home and feel homesick for it every second of every day.

Art has always been one of the foundations of who I am. I’ve tried more forms than I’d care to admit. Photography is the one art form that completely allows me to accurately document the things I find important in this life. I’m fascinated by history and the way things were back then, by the people and the hardships they’ve had to overcome.

I place great value on peoples’ stories and feel a deep calling to document them in a way that hasn’t been staged or tampered with. These photos, in turn will become our history. I suppose that makes me an old soul at heart.

One day, people will look back and be thankful somebody like me cared enough to take notice. I can’t be any more honest than that.

Instagram - @rowdy_travis_documentary | Facebook - Rowdy Travis ~ Photographer

👉  This story excerpt is from Issue #15 of Kickin Up Dust magazine: March 2023.