Captured by award-winning local photojournalist Jacklyn Wagner, a selection of portraits featuring Lismore flood survivors is now on display at NSW Parliament.

Described as a "love letter to Lismore and its resilient spirit", the exhibition features 100 portraits taken in homes across the city following the February 2022 flooding.

It was officially launched last night at NSW Parliament in Sydney, with State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg, former Premier Dominic Perrottet, and local Nationals Member of the NSW Legislative Council among those in attendance.

(Attendees, including Lismore locals, at the launch of the exhibition last night. Photo supplied)

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin hosted the event, and said it was exciting to be able to coordinate the event.

“It's exquisite, elegant, evocative, and it shows the local lives of people who were impacted heavily by the floods,” she said.

“It's one of those exhibitions that's both wonderful and beautiful - but it will also cause a lot of emotion.”

“I was just excited to be with Jacklyn and her whole team, and some people who were the subjects of the exhibition - they're all people who lived through the flood.”

“This exhibition shows, at some level, despair, but it also shows hope, which is really important.”

Clive Tressider and Debbie Grant: South Lismore has been Clive’s home ground since 1989. He moved his campervan to higher ground but lost everything he owned. (Photo by Jacklyn Wagner)

Olivia lost all her plants. Friends donated plants and labour from Brisbane to get her garden back together. It had been almost 12 months to the day that Olivia and Mick had bought the house. (Photo by Jacklyn Wagner)

Aimee and Chris Churchill have lived in their South Lismore home for ten years. Chris grew up in neighbouring North Lismore and is used to floods. (Photo by Jacklyn Wagner)

Photojournalist Jacklyn Wagner spoke about her inspiration for the series of photos.

"Walking and driving around the streets [following the flood] … there was an adrenalin-like energy; hundreds of people were helping each other in countless ways,” she said.

“In the back of my mind were the first stirrings of what I might do photographically. I decided I would just let it come to me.”

"A fortnight later, I woke up one morning and knew exactly what I needed to do. I would document the actuality of residents in their ruined surroundings, if they would let me, exactly as I found them.”

“I would simply ask them - people who had lost everything or saved something; people who now needed to start reclaiming their homes and lives - if I may take a picture of them. No lights, no paraphernalia - just a picture.”

"I knew it was important to document these moments in time…"

Through the Heart... a Flood of Fears and Tears 2023 is on exhibition at NSW Parliament House on weekdays, 9am-5pm, from Tuesday 2 May to Thursday 25 May 2023. 

If you cannot make it in person, explore the artworks and stories in the virtual exhibition, by clicking this link: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/visit/events/Pages/Through-the-Heart-a-Flood-of-Fears-and-Tears-2023.aspx