Gazette columnist Jeffrey Addison, of Palmwoods, entered this picture in the Heritage Bank Photography Awards, where he was one of 50 finalists out of over 2300 entrants vying for a first prize of  $15,000.

“I watched this Red-necked Wallaby joey jump out of its mother’s pouch, leap around her about six times in a small ring and then stop in front of her and reach up for a cuddle,” Jeffrey said. “I could hardly believe my eyes. The love was just so apparent.

“The joey reaches up, then gets up further on its tippy-toes, and puts its paws around her.

“She grasps her joey and they cuddle for about two seconds. The mother has tightly closed her eyes.

“The joey then gets down, sticks its nose into her pouch, hesitates, comes out again and grasps her paws with its paws as if to say ‘see ya’ and then dives headfirst into her pouch. The whole encounter lasted some 18 seconds.”

The picture was taken in the Bunya Mountains. Finalists will be displayed at the  University of Southern Qld, Toowoomba, until 28 October.