For local Nev Male, life has always been about curiosity, hard work and finding humour in everyday moments.
Ready to crack a joke at any time, you could say it’s his quick wit that has carried Nev through a long and varied life.
“I’ve always believed life’s too short to be serious all the time,” Nev said. “If things get tough, sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh.”
Now nearing 83, Nev has built a life filled with community involvement (you might even recognise Male Road in Beerwah – named after the family), business ventures and creative pursuits. Trained as a plumber, he also spent many years farming chokos and running his own businesses. Along the way, he became deeply involved in local sport, helping to establish the Caboolture Sports Club and dedicating years to soccer as a coach and club president.
His introduction to the sport came when his young son wanted to play rugby league, before switching to soccer. Nev found himself standing on the sidelines, then coaching and eventually helping to build strong teams. One of his proudest moments came while coaching an under-15 girls’ team that had struggled to win games.
“They hadn’t won a match in years,” he said. “I told them if they could win one game, they would be ahead of where they had been before. By the end of the season, they had scored 115 goals for and only one against. They were the dream team. They went on to win the premiership.”
Through the Lens: A Lifelong Passion for Photography
While sport played a major role in his life, photography became another lasting passion. Nev first discovered photography as a teenager when he bought a simple Brownie camera and began capturing moments wherever he went. His interest quickly grew, leading him to join a local camera club and start entering competitions.
Over the decades that followed, Nev built an impressive photography career, exhibiting both nationally and internationally. His work, which includes nature photography, has earned gold medals in international competitions and widespread recognition among photography circles. He has also managed to collect what he calls “a ute load of trophies”.
Despite the awards and trophies, Nev has always kept photography in perspective.
“I tell people not to worry about judges,” he said. “If you love the photo you have taken, that’s the most important thing.”
These days, Nev still enjoys taking photos, working occasionally on the farm and spending time with his children and grandchildren. His outlook on life remains refreshingly simple.
“The first thing I do when I wake up is check if I’m breathing,” he said with a laugh. “If I am, then it’s already a good start to the day.”
His photography can be viewed on Instagram.
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