Capturing Legacies: The Darwin DiverCity Series

From a young age, Georgia Politis was captivated by cultures and history. As a second-generation Darwin-born Greek woman, she grew up immersed in a rich tapestry of cultures, fueling her fascination with visual arts.

In 2017, at the age of 23, Georgia embarked on a photography business venture, unaware of the profound impact it would have. In 2018, a poignant moment capturing her great-grandmother in Greece while on holiday with her husband sparked the idea of documenting people’s stories to create a lasting legacy.

This inspiration led to the creation of the Darwin DiverCity Series in 2020. Initially launched as a promotional venture, Georgia quickly decided to retract the promotion after just two sessions, opting instead to offer free sessions along with photos and stories. What began as a small project soon flourished, capturing the stories of over 50 individuals. “It just kept growing. I would stop it for a little while, as it requires 100 percent of creative input, and then I would meet someone and then start it again every year,” she shared.

The essence of the DiverCity Series lies in celebrating ordinary people with extraordinary stories, focusing on the diverse inhabitants of Darwin. Georgia’s aim is to capture the essence of the Top End, where everyone, regardless of fame or background, contributes to its vibrant cultural landscape.

The project’s success has been driven by chance encounters, social media call-outs, and unwavering support from the Darwin community. Despite the challenges of balancing the project with her business and personal life, Georgia finds fulfillment in each story shared, with growing support from across Australia.

“It has been a journey of growth in many ways. People will see the growth in my photography through the years, how my style has changed, and they will also see some photos in the series where there are updated photos from the original ones beside each other. I feel honored to have met so many people; sadly, a few have since passed away, which really underscores the importance of this project. These stories eventually get lost, and I have ensured they remain a legacy in their truest form – physical print,” she reflected.

Below: Georgia Politis

A SNAPSHOT FROM GEORGIA’S LEGACY PROJECT

Born in Kenya 31 years ago, Linda Cherop’s journey to Australia began in 2017, Adelaide being her first stop. Armed with nothing but her dreams and determination, she embarked on this solitary adventure, carving a new path for herself. After five years in Adelaide, Linda dreamt of a new start in a smaller city, and Darwin was her next home. A woman of many talents, by day Linda is a health promotions officer for the Cancer Council NT – and by evening and weekends, she is a highly talented and creative fashion designer by the name of The Monzaley. She designs many of her own outfits, and loves adding a splash of texture, colour or design from Kenya. Fashion has always been Linda’s passion, like the vibrant colours shining from her youth. Upon Linda’s arrival in Australia, fate led her to craft an outfit for someone in need, igniting a spark that would soon set her career ablaze. Word of her talent spread like wildfire, and soon, she found herself inundated with requests. With each creation, Linda poured her soul into the fabric, infusing it with a piece of her essence and commemorating her home country as well as surrounding African cultures.

As the years have gone by, Linda has constantly grown her skills and has dedicated countless hours in perfecting her craft. By 2021, Linda’s hobby had blossomed into a thriving business, having designed various pieces for her very own fashion show that captivated audiences far and wide. From that moment on, there was no looking back— Linda’s journey had taken flight, propelled by her unwavering determination and boundless creativity celebrating colour, diversity and creativity. Linda hopes to inspire others around her to show that you can truly follow your dreams, and follow your heart. “Start where you are. For within you lies a uniqueness waiting to be unleashed—a beacon of light amidst the darkness.”

Linda’s vibrant orange outfit, a testament to her heritage, is hand designed with textiles from Africa. The outfit, with intricate necklaces and chains, is generally considered special occasion wear – where women will wear it for a wedding or celebration – intended for dancing and performing. In contrast, her black dress, punctuated with a burst of vibrant colour, is a testament to her personal flair and appreciation for African textiles and culture. It’s a reflection of her individuality and serves as a canvas for her own creative expression, celebrating the beauty and richness of her heritage in a unique and personal way.

Below: Linda Cherop

GEORGIA HAS HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING THE RENOWNED JULIO

Julio Carceres da Costa was born in East Timor in 1974. Julio came to Australia as a refugee on a fishing boat from East Timor in 1995, fleeing his home country due to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.

Julio explained that sadly during the Indonesian occupation of East Timor, his country’s way of life was being taken away, and so Julio felt the desire to start again and live a better life. Julio began his Australian journey in Melbourne in 1995 and then made his way to Darwin in 2008. Julio worked as an all rounder; doing multiple construction based jobs in this time.

Julio loves sport and enjoys his hobbies of soccer and bike riding. With his hobby of bike riding, Julio has become a local icon in Darwin – bringing happy tunes across Nightcliff foreshore with positive messages on his bike in the evenings with his late Sulfur Crested cockatoo, Paulie, in the front enjoying the beautiful breezy scenery that Nightcliff has to offer. Paulie was gifted to Julio by his Darwin family and lived up until 2021, when he sadly passed away.Paulie was named after a popular American movie about an intelligent parrot named Paulie. However, Paulie’s memory will never be forgotten as a mural is now dedicated to Paulie and Julio in Nightcliff.

“I want to bring happiness to the community. That’s why I play my music when I go bike riding as it makes me happy. I want people to look after each other – especially the children of the future, and respect each other.”

Below: Julio Carceres da Costa