Gold in Press/People/Personality / 2026 / Press / People/Personality

• Prize
  Gold in Press/People/Personality, 1st Place winner in Press
• Photographer
  Brian Cassey, Australia
• Date of Photograph
  19/12/2025
• Website
  http://www.briancasseyphotographer.com
• Instagram
  @brian_cassey

In August 2024 at age four months Tobias Phineasa was attacked by meningococcal disease. Within hours he had been flown from his home in Cairns to Townsville Paediatric Hospital, had all arms and legs amputated and very nearly his life - twice. The paediatric surgeon said he had never seen a case so severe.
I learnt of the terrible plight of Tobias from a colleague. In December 2025 I was introduced to Tobias and his mother Katie to discuss documenting the heart-rending story. After conferring with husband Steven the couple came to the decision that 'it was time'. This portrait is the result.

BRIAN CASSEY / based Cairns, Australia

Long based in Australia's northern tropical city of Cairns, Brian was born in London UK almost with a camera in his hand. (First camera a VP Twin 127 Bakelite camera - 2/6d at Woolworths)

Since making Cairns home a few decades ago Brian has been freelancing for National and International media including News Ltd, Fairfax and 'The Wires'.

Brian has covered major news stories in Australia and around the planet ... and has been awarded for his work World wide.

Awards See ... www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards