When Lismore’s Jyllie Jackson received a phone call to say she would be awarded an Order of Australia Medal this year, she first thought it was a prank call.

“We get a lot of fake calls here at the Lantern Parade headquarters - and I nearly told her to get lost,” she laughed. “I was really surprised. 

Jyllie is one of the people who will receive one of the highest honours in Australia for “service to the community of Lismore”.

She said that the letters OAM after her name are quite an honor – but it’s really about all of the people in the local community who she has worked with that really deserve the honour. 

Volunteering

Jyllie’s work with community began 30 years ago.

“I’ve been on many committees in Lismore and Nimbin over time – Skillshare, Nimbin Birth and Beyond, Lismore Women’s Health Centre, Family Support Service - and I’ve been a Community Health representative,” she said.

“I’m an Aries and I was in a lot of startups – I’m a change agent and I like to help set thing up.”

Jyllie came to Lismore when she was 25 and brought her children up in Nimbin.

She’s always been community minded and says she really likes people being happy.

NATSKY 2017 - the Fiery Finale of ‘the Flood’ in 2017 after the flood when we were 4m under water.

Lantern Parade

Since 1994, she’s been involved in organising the annual Lismore Lantern Parade. 

She said it was her previous work in Hong Kong, helping with lantern festivals there that inspired to bring the lantern love to Lismore.

Now, 28 years later, and she’s still going strong. 

“The lantern parade keeps me out of trouble,” she laughed.

“At the time we started it, Lismore was in a bit of a slump – even more so than now. 

The HOPE photo by NATSKY.

Community connection

“So, holding the lantern parade event on the longest night of the year, and connecting the community to the environment and seasons was important.  

“It was a symbol of change, hope optimism and moving toward the light and leaving the darkness behind.

The event became an important annual marker on the Lismore community calendar. 

“It was a time we really needed hope and that’s been something we’ve needed many times – especially in the 2017 flood,” Jyllie said.

“Even when Covid was here, we still did the parade and we sent lanterns all over Australia – and we’ve travelled all over Australia to other events.

“It’s in our DNA.

“It’s about our adaptability and resilience as a community.”

Natsky 2017 - the SES’ Ark.

Peter Derrett’s Drummer really captures the spirit of the LLP.

Volunteers

Jyllie has brought together volunteers over the years to work together as a community. In fact people who have met in the lantern workshop have gone on to have babies together.

But now, many of the volunteers are now getting older and she is calling for new and younger volunteers to get involved in making lanterns, or volunteering some way on helping put the annual event on.

“Having work for the dole volunteers has been great – especially because the event hasn’t attracted a lot of government support,” Jyllie said.

Plans for this year’s parade are going ahead – and hopefully Covid restrictions allow the Lismore Lantern Parade will take to the streets again this year on 25 June 2022.

For Jyllie, seeing people take joy in making lanterns or joining in the parade is what keeps her going.

For her, it’s always been about community – and Lismore is forever in her heart.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at http://www.gg.gov.au.

Fire pix in the Quad was a testament to our adaptability.

The Pegasus Moon by Natsky.

The Fish and the Coral was an installation in Brisbane in December 2021.