Captured by Nature, Called by Music: The Unfolding Journey of Rose Caulfield. Underestimate Me: A Story of Belief, Bravery and Becoming
- The Daily Mirror Rppfm 98.7
- 22 minutes ago
- 5 min read
CHAT SESSION 145 with Rosie Caufield
Topic- Through the Lens and Into the Light: The Evolution of a Peninsula Creative
Monday 9th March 2026 1pm https://rppfm.com.au
One year after leaving high school in 2008, Rose Caulfield entered the hospitality industry, where she would spend the next 12 years. For her 21st birthday, she received a DSLR camera — a gift that would quietly sit in a cupboard collecting dust, waiting for its moment.
That moment began to unfold after Rose moved permanently to the Mornington Peninsula in 2014. In 2017, she met her partner, Nathan Woods, filmmaker and founder of Nath Films. Through Nathan, Rose was introduced to breathtaking landscapes and hidden natural beauty she had never truly noticed before. A deep appreciation for nature began to grow.
Before long, she couldn’t stop photographing everything she found beautiful. After posting one of her images online, her cousin reached out to ask whether it had been taken on a professional camera. That simple question planted a seed of belief Rose had never felt before.
Unsure of her career path but curious about this new passion, Rose took a brave step. While still working, she enrolled in a short evening course at Chisholm to learn the fundamentals of photography. Borrowing a friend’s camera, she committed herself to learning.
Returning to the classroom was intimidating. At times, concentration was difficult, but she persevered — and discovered that she loved learning. Her teacher later messaged her on Instagram with words she would never forget: she had a natural eye for composition, something he couldn’t teach. That encouragement ignited a powerful belief in herself and deepened her passion for photography, animals, and nature.
By 2019, despite having no formal experience, Rose boldly messaged a nightclub and asked for an opportunity to photograph an event. That decision marked the beginning of building her portfolio and stepping confidently into the industry.
In 2021, trusting her instincts again, she applied for a position in school photography. After reviewing her work — particularly her images of children — she was offered a full-time role. While grateful for the opportunity, Rose soon realised that full-time photography was diminishing the creativity and joy she loved. During this time, she discovered her passion for working with children and later transitioned into early childhood education.
March 2021 became a milestone year when Rose had a full-page feature in The Age for her photograph of a koala taken while supporting the “Save Our Quarry” campaign at Dromana Quarry. She continued experimenting across baby, family, and product photography, expanding her skills and creative voice.
It wasn’t until 2023 that Rose combined her love for live music with photography — and everything changed. After leaving her role in early childhood education, she received a phone call just two weeks later from Latrobe City Council offering event photography work. This was followed by projects with Mornington Peninsula Shire’s “Make Music Matter” initiative.
From there, momentum built quickly. Rose photographed many of the Peninsula’s most successful musicians, with her images appearing in council advertising, on banners at the Mornington Main Street Festival, and even on the back and side of the 788 bus. She also completed extensive arts and culture work for local councils and photographed for Councillor Sarah Race.
Yet photography was only part of her story.
In 2021, Rose experienced a life-changing loss when her mother passed away. In her grief, she picked up the guitar again after nearly a decade of not playing. Compelled to honour her mother, she wrote a tribute song titled Lydia. She describes the writing process as deeply spiritual — her arms tingling, emotion pouring through her as if the song was moving through her rather than from her.
Although she had never publicly shared her original music and felt incredibly vulnerable, Rose knew Lydia was not meant to stay hidden. She felt called to share it — to help others find healing, connection, and meaning in their own grief.
That moment became a turning point. It reminded her that life is short, and when something inside you urges you forward, you must listen.
As a young girl in high school, when asked by a careers advisor what she wanted to be, Rose had answered simply: “A singer.” At the time, she struggled academically and had no clear direction. But the dream had always been there.
At just her second open mic performance, Rose sang Lydia and won Best Original Song. Despite this success, confidence challenges led her to step back from performing for a couple of years. Yet from 2021 to 2024, songwriting flowed effortlessly — as if a blocked tap had finally been turned on. The creativity hasn’t stopped since.
In December 2024, local country singer-songwriter and event planner Heidi Luckhurst invited Rose to support her and Nat Allison, lead guitarist for Suzi Quatro. Heidi told her, “People need to hear your songs.” From there, opportunities continued to unfold.
Rose supported her brother’s duo, ‘Peach’, and in October 2025 challenged herself further by performing at Rocktoberfest — her first time playing in a band. She shared the stage with Rennie from Rennie and the Shitchairs, Katie Lovett on bass, Eden Blackmore from Poseidon’s Kiss on lead guitar, and Icky Sitch. In 2025 alone, Rose performed seven gigs.
After sharing her vision to record and film a clip for her song Underestimate Me, she was introduced to author Julie Fisher. What followed was one of the most humbling experiences of her music career — co-writing a song together. Rose was later invited to perform the song at a disability conference, one of the most meaningful performances she has had to date. She also made her first radio appearance on Julie’s program.
Now, Rose is focusing on rehearsing with her band and preparing for an upcoming milestone — hosting her very first event, Country Sounds at Soundbar, on March 21. The event will showcase some of the Mornington Peninsula’s finest country, indie, and folk singer-songwriters, including Gab Hester (Top 27, Australian Idol), Andrew Grahame (winner of the 2025 Two Buoys music competition), Holly Lee Jones (fresh from Tamworth), and Tommy Woods — a real-life Gippsland dairy farmer and exceptional country music picker who grew up on the Peninsula.
As she prepares to enter the studio to record Underestimate Me, Rose continues to follow the same instinct that has guided her journey from the beginning: if it feels right, say yes.
And she does.
Follow Rosie Caulfield
Photographer. Singer-songwriter. Creative spirit of the Mornington Peninsula.
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