HE'S captured hundreds of historic moments.
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From art in the open air to the devastation of drought, and from local performers to regional progress, NVI and NDL photographer Gareth Gardner has been there for it all.
Now he and his family need the region's help.
The day after his father's funeral, Mr Gardner drove to Newcastle where his partner Sonya was in early labour with their twins - and things were about to get worse.
"It's stupid, but when I arrived I pulled my phone out to call Dad to give him an update on the twins - a really stark reminder he's gone, and just the circumstances and everything hit pretty hard," he said.
It's stupid but when I arrived I pulled my phone out to call dad to give him an update on the twins ...
- Gareth Gardner
Babies Harper and Maddison had separate placentas and sacs, usually one of the least risky twin pregnancies.
Unfortunately, the placentas were joined, so Maddie was born with too much blood and Harper lost more than half of her own - so rare there are only two other cases in English medical literature.
Harper's kidneys have failed, and she has an eye and lung disease from premature birth. The six-and-a-half-month-old has severe hip dysplasia.
She's also had open heart surgery and another is yet to come.
Add emergency hernia surgery, bowel surgery and multiple infection emergencies, and she still manages to smile. It wasn't easy for Maddie, either, who spent a month in NICU with lung issues.
For the past six months, the family have been living at Ronald McDonald House.
Now, Mr Gardner's family have started a GoFundMe to help pay for Harper's ongoing medical costs.
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The couple still have their home in Tamworth, along with mounting medical bills while both parents are off work.
"To be honest, the whole pregnancy was terrifying because we knew that, even though Maddie was healthy, risks came with being born early - which is what was going to have to happen in order to save Harper," she said.
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-support-harper-gardner.