Become a part of a Living Memory this week in a regional project to capture North Lismore in imagery and story. 

This Thursday and Saturday, you have the opportunity to visit a pop-up photo booth where professional photographers will capture moments. 

“At the heart of this work is the desire to creatively support a community experiencing a massive transformation — to tell their stories in their own words.”

Photographic artist Cherine Fahd believes photography can bring people and communities together, and creatively address moments of significant social change. "Photography has the power to make us visible to each other, to make us feel seen in ways that say, 'I belong, I am here.' 

“The simple act of making portraits creates a thread between people, a reminder of our presence in this moment, of resilience, of being held in each other's sight so that we know we were here in North Lismore together."

In October many current and former North Lismore residents ('Northies') came together for a Living Memory community co-design workshop, sharing stories and ideas of how they would like North Lismore to be remembered. 

Local historian Adele Wessell and photographic artist Cherine Fahd are advocates of the Living Memory project and are capturing imagery and stories for a showcase in March 2025 and then to live on in a digital archive.

Lismore App's Lara Leahy happened across the photography team taking the promo images for this event. Lara and her dog, Tilly, had a lovely time sharing some laughs and capturing a few moments to give expression to the project.

Lara has been involved in telling many people's stories in North Lismore and beyond, and Tilly is often not far away. In her first photo shoot, Tilly was not accustomed to so much attention directed at her, but her beautiful character shone through.

(An impromptu opportunity to contribute to the legacy of North Lismore. Image credit: Elise Derwin)

You can take part in the North Lismore pop-up Photo Booths:

• Thursday, 28 November 4pm—6pm
• Saturday, 30 November 8.30am—11am

Galaxy Underground, 51 Bridge Street, North Lismore AND 43 Bridge Street, North Lismore (old general store building)

This event is free, and you are asked to come along with whoever you would like - by yourself or with your family, neighbours, mates or local club! 

Bring memorabilia and personal stories, and help the Living Lab to create some lasting memories of the neighbourhood you are part of. 

The oral histories of the Northies will be documented in interviews with Adele Wessell, local historian. Adele looks to explore “themes of home, community and locality in the words of locals from the areas where homes are being bought back.”

If you have a story you would like to share, get in touch with the Living Lab Northern Rivers at livinglabnr@scu.edu.au. 

Living Memory is a community project with Living Lab Northern Rivers and the NSW Reconstruction Authority exploring the stories, history and memories of North Lismore.

Executive Director of the Reconstruction Authority's Northern Rivers Adaptation Division, Kristie Clarke, described the Living Memory project as a 'people first' approach to recording the cultural and historical significance of North Lismore.

"North Lismore, like many areas of the Northern Rivers, is undergoing significant change following the 2022 floods and this project takes a very personal approach to telling that story," she said.

After the showcase in March, the Living Memory archive will be accessible for long-term future reference, along with a collection of historical materials and artefacts. Together they will form a record of a North Lismore, it's place and people, at a particular time.

For more information, visit llnr.com.au/living-memory.