Hands that Created Our Heritage – History only exists if the stories and told and recorded.

A simple idea sent me off on a three year journey of discovery around Australia in Bugsy, my second hand campervan.

Unearthing stories of a fascinating collection of people who helped carve the foundation of modern Australia with their bare hands. Stepping back into a time when our

hands connected us to life itself and were the most important tools we possessed.

All I knew was I wanted to hear the stories of their lives. Having no clue how, where they would lead or what they would reveal.

This beautiful, brutal land forced generations of ordinary people to do extraordinary things to survive, create an existence and collectively, build a nation. The

people and the land became one.

Photo journaling the diverse landscapes forced me to understand our country more intimately. At times, it made me wonder why anyone would want to make an existence in

parts of this unforgiving land. One day I woke, sensing it’s all compelling beauty and understood the why. Ultimately, life is all about the land.

Unknowingly, I was pushed into a personal journey. I had changed – in ways I didn’t expect. Never returning to my selfish, unfulfilled city life.
 
Our history reveals so much of who we are today and directs us into the future. Our past, present and future always lay in our hands. Blurb on author:

Lexa’s birthplace is Bondi, Australia – her home is wherever she is in the world. A dear friend once told her, ‘Travel and leave a legacy in life’ – and so she does.
Her books, photography and projects are intertwined; they inspire each other and take her to fascinating places. With a curious mind and loving diversity in her life,

she is mostly travelling ‘on the road’ capturing images of places and subjects from her surrounds, as well as finding inspiring new projects to work on.

Most recently, her three year project to locate, hear and record stories from people who were the last generation who carved the foundation of modern Australia with

their bare hands. To understand what it took to build a nation and learn about the people, our identity and heritage. Lexa also captures her county’s incredible raw

beauty with her trusty, well used camera, often hiking in remote places. Her images have been featured and displayed in themed exhibitions.

Another project took her to 34 towns in four countries in Europe. A journey to walk in the steps of her ancestors after an intense research and recordings with her

brother. Producing a 500 page living history book for her family and their descendants.