Each photo would have a caption stuck or written on the back, with all the old who, where, what specific details of that image, so anyone could read and know exactly what it was about. Naming people correctly, especially with traditional and modern spellings, and where they are from is very important. This way of captioning is still used but with added keywords for the digital archive, to make searching easier.

These files were packed away for storage when we moved from the old Examiner building in Paterson Street to our current office, in May 2015.

Recently we had to copy some of the old BW prints for a feature, and decided to continue with the full box to digitise to our archive. This is a lengthy process of copying and then writing the caption to upload.

Memories return, when you flip through the file of old black and white prints - the feel, smell and if they are yours, even the day you took that pic. I found a few that sparked the grey matter and remembered the day.

We photographers meet a lot of people each day, in our daily recording of history of news and sport. We sometimes look back at our photos and talk about that "back in the day when" time.

I found some images in those files and some of my own, and it brought me to the question: I wonder where are they now, and what are they doing?

One of my images is that of Jo Palmer. A former Miss Tasmania and in 1993 she went on to be Miss Australia. It was decided to take her photo in front of the Launceston City Park gates and with her Miss Australia car to localise her.

Jo Palmer (nee Cornish) as Miss Australia in front of Launceston's City Park gates, 1993.

I have been privileged to photograph her and the family, from her and newborn daughter Lily in February of 1999, which still remains as a favourite image, to then seven-year-old Charlie for Daffodil Day in August 2016, along with various Palmer family portraits through the years.

She is now a Legislative Councillor and again has another official car. I did ask her to pose on the bonnet again, but she declined. I think the real reason was that the current bonnet is much higher to climb onto.

Jo Palmer, now the MLC for Rosevears, in front of Launceston City Park gates, 2021.

Now this isn't all about Miss Australia, but when I was looking for some more images, I came across another young Launceston lady by the name of Kathryn Hay who gained the title in 1999. The coincidence is she was also elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 2002.

The photo of Kathryn and her dog, was taken on February 2, 2009, as she had returned to Tasmania and planned to and was successful as an independent Labor candidate for the Upper House seat of Windermere (the other side of the Tamar river to Jo Palmer). However, she was defeated by the incumbent, Ivan Dean, at the May 2009 election.

Kathryn is now married to Troy Richardson, and proud mum to sons, Hunter, 9, and Chase, 8, who are two enthusiastic tennis players.

Kathryn Hay with her dog Goldie, February 2, 2009.

It was good to catch up with Kathryn and find out what she's doing now. She still has Finnish Lapphund dogs, and it was appropriate that we photograph her with her latest puppy, eight-week-old Nula. Together with her husband, they share their dogs with others who need it. Visiting residents of aged care facilities and hospitals, people with mental and physical disabilities, to widowers living on their own.

Kathryn Hay of Launceston with Nula, an eight-week-old Finnish Lapphund puppy, June 3, 2021.

Kathryn Hay, of Launceston, with her sons, Hunter, 9, and Chase, 8.

I found these following photos in the files while copying

The old Beaconsfield gold mine site and ruins 1975. The photographer wasn't noted, but they did take it through the car window, a technique used by a former colleague who is now retired that Phil Biggs and I enjoyed laughing with about.

The newer version of the front of the gold mine was taken by me on March 3, 2020, and I did get out of the car to shoot it.

Again the photographer wasn't noted, the view from Gorge Road, Trevallyn, of Paterson Bridge which started to be built in 1972. This image taken on March 3, 1976. It looks across the bridge to Ritchies Mill and Kings park, and now, the bridge carries thousands of cars.

Here are some other images and I wonder where they are now?

1/1/ 2013: "Oscar" and Angus Miller, 2, of Launceston at the Weymouth New Years day sports event.

10/06/2006: Riley Parker, 19 months of Youngtown, waits for the fog to lift at Aurora Stadium prior to the football game.

2/5/1987: The Salvation Army march through Launceston. Picture: Dick Speer

15/1/1985: Visiting HMAS Launceston were TS Tamar Cadets, Bevan Steer 15, Dean Brewer 15, Wade McFarlane 15, Michelle Waters 15, Michael Steer 15, Donna Cain 14, Rebecca Smith 16, Derek Brewer 13 all of Launceston with Petty Officer R.W. Timms of Adelaide. Picture: Neil Richardson

14/12/2005: It's that time of year when little angels practice for their Christmas concert and sometimes synchronisation is a struggle. Teacher Kate Wilson attempts to finetune a move with Sophie Booth 3, Izabella Campbell 2, Sohie Fawkner 5, Porschea George 4, Summer Campbell 4, Rebecca Imlach 5, Olivia Cullen 5, Meredith Berends 4, Tommy Glover 4 and Claire Imlach 4. Picture: Paul Scambler

20/3/1980: The President, a four metre replica of Campbell Town's most famous ram, bred by the Belle Vue stud owned by James Gibson.

25/06/2004: Grace Crawford in front of the big screen with parents Karina and Richard at the state funeral for former Premier Jim Bacon.

5/09/2008: Kate Boxhall, 9, with "George" (of George Town) a six-month-old Bennetts wallaby joey.

17/01/2008: Nguyen Thi Kieu, 6, of Vietnam, underwent surgery on her hands at St Vincents Hospital.

6/10/89: Eli Quillerat of Gipps Creek, and Joanne Cohen of Rossarden take a turn behind Smokey the donkey at the function to open the Darrell Hayes Memorial Mining museum at Storys Creek.

So if you know of any of these people, it would be nice to know what they are doing these days.

Paul Scambler - Senior Photographer