You may have seen Denise Alison working at Fundies Health Food shop in Lismore’s CBD. As Lismore’s un-official ambassador, Denise has been celebrating the diversity of people at the heart of Lismore through her popular Facebook page Humans of Lismore. Denise has heard sad stories, inspirational stories - and has helped people raise money. One of her talents is finding people who say they have no story to tell, then bring them to life for the rest of the world. 

So, how did The Humans of Lismore start?

“I was sitting in a café in Byron Bay six years ago when I overheard people at the next table talking about Lismore,” Denise said. 

“One of them lived in Lismore and the other said how can you live there? It’s such a hole. They gave Lismore the worst rap.

“I was thinking how dare you? And I thought I’ll show you - Lismore rocks. Lismore humans are bloody awesome.”

Denise Alison at home.

So, inspired by the Humans of New York Facebook page, Denise created the Humans of Lismore page.

“I thought I’m going to make a local little page, thinking it won’t go anywhere,” she said.

“I thought the Humans of New York was a beautiful idea - to get everyday people from the city’s community on the street and hear their stories. I loved how it showed everyday people who aren’t famous - people can relate to them.

“I found my very first person the next day, selling daffodils outside Dan Murphy’s when I went to get a bottle of red. 

Daffodil girl Katie - the first Human of Lismore. Read her story: https://www.facebook.com/Humansoflismore/photos/a.559195990870285/559206084202609

The first Human of Lismore

“This young girl called Katie was selling daffodils and I had my camera. I asked her if she wanted to be photographed for my page.

“She said sure. I asked her why was she doing this today and she said I lost my mum and all of a sudden, she started to cry and I started to cry - and in the end we were hugging in the car park in Dan Murphy’s. It really touched me and I put that story up that night – and people loved it. 

“People want to see and hear ‘real’. When the everyday stuff we all live and go through is put out there for people to read, they think I’m not the only one, or that happened to me. It brings people together.

Margaret the busker is one of the Humans of Lismore. https://www.facebook.com/Humansofli 56654784457714 smore/posts/3056654784457714

Everyone has a story

“Everyone has a story. The number of people who say to me I have no story is huge, but as soon as I sit and talk to them, they have so much. 

“Now I write stories with buskers and homeless people, the mayor, musicians and famous people, actors and shopkeepers – sportspeople – anyone.

“There is so much texture in this town – from artists, creators and business people to ferals and farmers - I love it.

“We all live together and everyone is so accepting - and it can be grotty and it can be beautiful and everything about it makes me happy.”

Photography history

“I was about 18 when I set up a dark room in my house and started doing surfing photographs. 

“My husband used to be a professional surfer. I used to have a big telephoto lens and I would sit on headlands photographing surfers. I had pics in Surfing World and Tracks and old school magazines. 

“Then I was in bands and I photographed them and started doing weddings and family portraits.

“When I don’t have a camera in my hand, I’m shooting with my eye It’s a constant thing in my heart - I love it. 

“Now, I shoot with a Fuji digital camera and I mostly do manual photography. 

“I do miss having a dark room though. I love that raw black and white film.”

Maude Boate is one of the Humans of Lismore.

2020 Hurford Portrait Prize finalist

Denise has recently been announced as a finalist kin the 2020 Hurford Portrait Prize, with a photograph she took of her long-time friend and local icon, drag queen Maude Boate aka Michel Gates. Denise’s photograph of Maude will be hanging in the Lismore Regional Gallery from November 7, when the exhibition officially opens. 

Read the Lismore App news story and see the photograph when Denise captured the image of an unguarded moment when Michael transformed into drag queen Maude Boate. Humans of Lismore creator Denise Alison makes the portrait prize final

Foxy the drag queen is one of the Humans of Lismore.

Exhibitions

While she has been a photographer for a long time, Denise hasn’t exhibited in many exhibitions – so she’s excited to have one of her works hanging on the walls of our regional gallery.

“I had an exhibition a few years ago, when Natsky opened Fox Den over in South Lismore,” Denise said. “I sold about ten of my photos - it was really exciting.

“I mostly give away photos as gifts and frame some for my walls, but winning the prize has inspired her to make more of an effort and maybe do more exhibitions.”

John Stewart is one of the Humans of Lismore.

Humans of Lismore popularity

When Denise started writing stories of people’s lives for the Humans of Lismore Facebook page, she hadn’t had any experience in journalism and she wasn’t tech savvy either. 

In fact, she’d never created a Facebook page before – and so began her journey of creating something that would grow to have thousands of followers within a few years.

“I’ve always loved English, but never been to journalist school,” Denise said. “I took the challenge on and I hope people are forgiving with my grammar and punctuation, I just do it.

Cobbler John is one of the Humans of Lismore.

Followers

“The page’s following grew very quickly – a year after I started it, I did an interview with ABC radio and then I had about 4000 followers. Now there’s 22,000 and it’s all organic followers, not paid.

“I started to learn to look at the insights of the page. At one stage there was 27 countries. If I do a story on some sone with roots in another country, they share it with their family. 

“A few times I get negative feedback, but most of the time people say you make me want to live in Lismore and I love your town.”

Meet the Humans of Lismore

Norma and Harold.

“I remember walking down the street one day and I saw a very old couple - Norma and Harold - walking down the street holding hands. She was Aboriginal and tiny in a pink twin set and he was a tall man wearing a top hat. I stopped them and said it’s so nice to see you holding hands and they told their story. They had been together 60 years and he has since passed away. I asked them what they loved about each other, and she said he was sexy.”

Joel North.

“Joel North is a local Lismore boy with brain cancer and we helped raise money for him. He touched a lot of people’s hearts."

John Trigger.

“I did an interview with John Trigger and he said he couldn’t afford to get dentures. So, I created a gofundme page and raised enough money for him to get his dentures. He came into Fundies one day with a big smile and said thank you so much.

“The page slowly and quietly helps people in the community."

Sad stories

Grant Stones and Sufi

“Grant was a homeless guy who would always outside the conservatorium with his dog. He was an ex addict and his dog kept him alive. But the dog got arthritis, so we raised money for the dog’s vet care and to get a trolley for the dog. Eventually the dog died, then Grant just died last week.

Darryl Healy

“The Darryl Healy from Keen Street vets is a story that attracted hundreds of likes. Darryl said ‘what amazes me reading these comments is that you normally don’t hear people say these beautiful things about normally – it’s what people usually say at funerals.

“’To hear them now while I’m still here is so humbling’, he said. ‘It’s overwhelming’.

Billy the busker.

“After I wrote the story about Billy the Busker – who had a heart attack earlier this year, Billy said it was so good - ‘people say g’day billy – they know me now’ he said.

Melita

“Melita, from Lips and Lashes in the Star Court Arcade’s story was story touching and raw. She said ‘I don’t have a story, I’m boring’ - and her story was full on. 

Happy stories

Rhoda.

“Rhoda was an old lady from Caroona retirement village and everyone loved her. 

“Then there was Harry Crethar a local legend, the wildlife twins -who were snake catchers and identical twins, Teddy the rapper, Winsome soup kitchen workers, and Ron with the big deep voice who sells coffee at the market.

“And Shanti who wears suits like Elvis and always can be seen walking up the roads."

Luke Close.

“I interviewed Luke Close - the artist who painted the mural near the gallery."

Digby Moran.

“Digby Moran was very quiet. When I interviewed him, we sat on his lounge and he told me about his childhood and growing up – I got some beautiful photos of him."

Jodie McRae. Read her story: https://www.facebook.com/Humansoflismore/photos/a.559195990870285/772321092891106

“Jodi McRae was the founder of Jodie’s Inspiration, a cancer fundraising charity. She had breast cancer and was full of passion for what she was doing. Her family and the people around her kept the Jodie’s Inspiration foundation going. 

“When I interviewed her, I went to her house and met her and her husband, she was full of life and so inspiring right to the bitter end. I saw her in bed just before she died."

Moppy the busker. Read her story: https://www.facebook.com/Humansoflismore/posts/1754399308016608

“Moppy the busker is another person we all see on the street, with her accordian and her pigeons pecking seed at her feet on the streets while she busks.”

Dogs of Lismore 

Not content with just writing about the humans of Lismore, Denise started writing about the dogs of Lismore too.

“When I started interviewing humans, often they would have a dog with them - so I started up the Dogs of Lismore Facebook page,” Denise said.

“I write it I like it’s the dog talking and people love it. There are all sorts of stories there – happy and sad stories about dogs and puppies.

Denise’s own dog Clover is a celebrity herself and has made it into the Dogs of Lismore page a few times. 

Clover Alison.

So, what does the future hold?

Denise intends to keep uncovering the hidden gems in the community of Lismore and telling the stories of the people we may see around town, but don’t know anything about. 

“It’s a privilege to tell peoples stories,” Denise said.

And we love reading them.

To find out more about Lismore’s humans and dogs, visit the Humans of Lismore or the Dogs of Lismore Facebook pages.