Another blast from the past emerged.  While trawling through old stories and photographs I came across this shot of prospector, Cecil Mitchell, in his old humpy near Spargoville, south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia’s goldfields country. It’s a favourite taken back around 1988.

Originally shot in colour using a Leica loaded with Kodachrome 25. I recently converted the image to black and white. A Leica and Kodachrome, especially K25, are recognised as one of the greatest combinations for reportage work. Bring back Kodachrome please. 

This picture was published in 1992 in the book “Chook On Sundays”.

The ABC have recently published an interview with Trish Ainslie and myself, produced by Macey Turner. Trish and I worked on a number of books together. More on that material in later editions of ‘Reporters’.

The links to ABC interviews are: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-08/photographers-remember-bygone-era-wa-gold-prospecting/106299710 and https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/goldfields-breakfast/breakfast/106312112

The second link is a radio connection and our section is about 40mins from the beginning. 

Text and picture © Roger Garwood 2026