After seven hours of tattooing in an overseas tattoo parlour, Jason Manewell had his masterpiece — the iconic Forster-Tuncurry bridge on his arm.
Mr Manewell, who has lived in the popular NSW coastal holiday town of Forster for more than 50 years, says the region holds a special place in his heart.
“Living here all my life, the bridge is something I see daily,” Mr Manewell said.
“It’s always been there. I caught my first fish underneath it when I was four, I jumped off it many times as a child, it’s been part of my life, all my life.
“As a teenager, from 1985 until 1988 I worked [near the bridge] at the local Fisherman’s Wharf boatshed [and] scuba diving shop … I did over 200 scuba dives before the age of 18, so I know the area above and below the water.”
Tattoo turning heads
Mr Manewell had the tattoo done while he was in Bali recently.
“It took seven hours of actual tattooing. I was in the studio for about nine hours, for prep work and breaks,” he said.
“It is wall-to-wall ink … there are no skin breaks, it’s full on.
“The bridge just seemed to stand out, and it really just screams Forster-Tuncurry, and it’s beautiful blue water, and that was what I wanted.
“It has a bit of an oil painting look, which is what I was going for. I couldn’t be happier with it.”
The tattoo has attracted plenty of attention while out and about and on social media.
It was even recognised by other Australians in Bali.
“A lot of friends have told me I should contact the local tourism authorities,” Mr Manwell said with a laugh.
“People were coming up to me in bars in Bali saying, ‘I know that bridge’ … it’s recognisable from across the street and it’s such an iconic image that anyone who knows the area, knows what it is.”
Place tattoos increasing in popularity
Mr Manewell is part of a growing number of people turning to tattoos as a permanent way to remember special places and experiences.
Danyelle James, who manages a tattoo studio at Wauchope on the NSW Mid North Coast, said they were seeing many people seeking images of places that carried a personal meaning.
Places might include a home, marriage destination or local landmark.
“We see people getting tattoos of places regularly, places that are special, that are family memories, a family spot they go to, a beach or landforms on their property,” she said.
“I even have a tattoo of Bago Mountain, Bago full moon in a bottle. Because I live here, Wauchope holds a special place in my heart.”
Ms James said there had also been a surge in the number of people getting tattoos, in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Lots of people had plenty of time to think about cool tattoos to get,” she said.
Another tattoo artist, Mitchell Stiefler, based at Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, said many tourists liked to get tattoos as a reminder of their time in the region.
“If people get married in Noosa, if they have eloped or chosen a different destination for their wedding, we do get a few people who will get something to commemorate that wedding,” Mr Stiefler said.
“I have also done some where people have wanted something resembling the [Noosa] surf breaks and points and the palm trees.”
A tribute to things you love
Mr Manewell has another prominent tattoo, of a favourite pet, that has attracted a lot of interest and once featured as part of a commercial television program.
“I have a tattoo of my old dog Odin on my arm. It’s a beautiful work and luckily I got that done before he passed away,” he said.
“People say your body is your temple and I don’t mind showing the things I love.”
As for whether or not he will get more tattoos showcasing his local region, that remains undecided.
“I’ll be thinking long and hard before I get something like that again,” Mr Manewell said.
“I have 10 large tattoos … I don’t want to go too overboard.”