north east regional extra | July 20 - 26, 2022
nemedia.com.au
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July 20 - 26, 2022
Extreme storm chasing
◆ FIRE IN THE SKY: Lightning crashes behind the trees at Winton Wetlands. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
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By BELINDA HARRISON ACCORDING to Chiltern-based Kurt Hickling, storm chasing ‘is a full tilt, adrenalin pumping passion that puts you on the edge of your seat and gives you a front row seat to the main event.’ During every storm season, (September-March), people in the North East prepare their properties in anticipation of severe weather events but for storm chasers, severe weather is an invitation to move toward danger, rather than away from it. There are many ‘chasers’ across the area who are attracted to the beauty of storms and love to capture nature’s violent expressions in what could be considered an extreme form of landscape photography. A professional storm chaser for 25 years, Kurt loves putting himself in harm’s way - all in the name of science and photography of course. Kurt has been fascinated with thunderstorms and severe weather since he was 10 years old and wanted to pursue his passion for severe weather. In 1997 Kurt joined the Australian Severe Weather Association which was made up of a keen group of storm chasers and meteorologists, including former senior forecaster David Brown from the Bureau of Meteorology. Together, the group learnt to understand the science of weather, which gave them the skills to anticipate Mother Nature’s next move when they were out in the field. Kurt felt that being taught by professionals was a very important stage that would take his passion forward in the right direction. “I was privileged to learn from leading meteorologists such as David who helped me better understand the behaviour of severe weather events in Australia but more so in Victoria,” Kurt said.
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