In between battling cancer, Thirroul's Pete Haynes has been exploring a passion - making his first short film.
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Haynes, 43, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February, which has spread to his liver.
"One of the benefits of cancer is time," he laughed. "So I filled the time this way.
"I made the film between radiation treatment and surgery."
The fifth annual SmartFone Flick Fest (SF3), Australia's international pocket film festival, hosted its awards ceremony at Event Cinemas, Sydney recently.
The entries were all entirely made on smartphones.
Haynes won the 'Filmbreaker' award for best rookie filmmaker for Breakable; a five-minute short film that was filmed on an iPhone XS.
"I've just come out of hospital from liver surgery which was pretty successful, and I've got to go into bowel surgery in November," Haynes said.
"It's a big year this one for us, but I managed to squeeze a film out just before I went into surgery last time."
Haynes said the film sought to highlight the social pressures faced by young people.
Haynes filmed, edited and wrote the script.
His nephew Sandon Groves assisted with the film's concept, and acted in it.
"I've always had a passion for film, and when you're faced with this stuff you can either sit back, or pick yourself up and do something," Haynes said.
"So I chose to hone my skills, and while doing it I thought it was a chance to enter something unique.
"I think film is really powerful in telling a story... It gives you the opportunity to express and convey a message, to persuade, to inspire.
"And I love the creative process. I love the idea that you can capture footage, take that footage and edit it into something powerful, just through adding music, sound, colour and a storyline."
Haynes also has a YouTube channel called 'Pete's Cancer Adventures', where he's been vlogging his cancer journey.
"It's just to try and help people going through the same thing," he said.
Haynes, who has already undergone chemotherapy, radiation and a few other procedures, said his current prognosis was "pretty good".
"I'll go through this next operation; the doctors seem pretty confident they can remove it all," he said.
"Then I'll be doing chemo probably over Christmas and into the New Year, and hopefully it'll be somewhere near done."
Meanwhile, in the Kids categories, Edmund Rice College year 8 student Rocco Roncato won the 'SF3 Kids 2019 Best Cinematography- SF3 International Film Making Award' for his short documentary film Ants.
"It was quite the moment when his film went up on the big screen and I am so excited to announce that Rocco won the award for Best Cinematographer," Mary Costello, the school's creative arts co-ordinator said.
"This is incredible as it is an international competition and an exciting achievement for Rocco.
"This is also an incredible honour for Leen Rampe, who mentored Rocco through his film as a member of the Film Club at Edmund Rice College."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
