Pakenham National Photographic Exhibition

History update 2018

With the founding Pakenham National committee of Rob Cutler, Laurelei Vincent, Don Grant, Rosie Chatfield, Jenny Trotter, David Piko, Alphonse Landman, Doug Hamilton, Roger Berry, Jacqui Bommert, Pauline Preston and Megan Trotter the Pakenham National Photographic Exhibition was born in 2004.

With what began as a committee of twelve, the Pakenham National is now run predominantly by a committee of one, Rosie Chatfield, SSVAPS, with entries closing in July each year, and the Exhibition held over two days at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham each September. The Exhibition is usually well attended by the photographic community and the general public over the two days, with a display of 300+ prints and projected images.  Visitors to the Exhibition each year can vote for the People’s Choice Award.

There are twelve sections to enter, 8 print and 4 projected images, covering subjects such as Open, Monochrome, Landscape/Seascape, People/Portraiture, Architecture, Rural Australia, Animals & Wildlife, Creative/Experimental and Photojournalism. Print numbers have fluctuated greatly over the years of running the National, and so each year the entry numbers are reviewed for each section and section categories maybe changed, with the emphasis on encouraging people to enter prints! Without the prints to put on display, the Exhibition would simply not attract as many visitors.

One reason Rosie continues to run the National: ‘There is nothing more rewarding than knowing an entrant has gained their first acceptance, seeing their delight at finding their name (and image!) in print in the catalogue, and of course, seeing their work on display amongst some of the very best images in Australian photography. I feel very privileged to be part of someone’s photographic journey and successes.’

Most Successful Exhibitors

Judges 2010-2018

Graham Anderson, Peter Bellmont, Roy Berryman, Jane Bower, Peter Carty, Bronwen Casey, Ron Cork, Pete Davies, Lee Deamer, Adrian Donoghue, Duane Eaks, Margaret Edwards, Fred Everett, Emma Gilette, Kath Gillies, Virigina Glasson, Sheryle Griffiths, Tony Harding, Lyn Haywood, Bert Hoveling, Mark Jones, Peter Kewley, Tony Long, Rob McKay, Leo McGuire, Rob Morgan, David Norris, Bev Pascoe , Clinton Plowman, Paul Reeve, Paul Robinson, Gaynor Robson, Ian Rolfe, Louise Sedgman, Rob Sloane, Adrian Smith, Darren Spargo, Dave Sumner, Mark Teague, Cliff Threadgold, Peter Walton, Daryl Whitaker, Alfred Zommers

Catalogues from most of the Pakenham National Exhibitions are still available and copies can be purchased for a small cost to cover postage from  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you to VAPS for their continual support of the Pakenham National. Thank you to all past entrants for entering, without your prints and images the Exhibition would simply not exist.

Planning for the 15th Pakenham National is well under way, so please print and mount your images – let’s make the 15th Pakenham National the best yet.