Living Memory
Stories and portraits celebrating North Lismore
Many residential properties in North Lismore are part of the buyback stream of the Resilient Homes Program, the largest residential buyback program in Australian history. As the suburb transitions from a vibrant neighbourhood to a new future, many local stories, it’s history and the deep understanding of place will move with the residents.
Living Memory is a community project exploring the stories, history and memories of North Lismore. 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.
With North Lismore residents, we will create a series of reflections and portraits, and a collection of historical materials and artefacts, celebrating the people and a suburb now rapidly changing.
How will these stories and portraits be captured?
Tell your story pop-up photobooth
North Lismore’s community is invited to be centre-stage. Photographic artist Cherine Fahd believes photography can bring people and communities together, and creatively address moments of significant social change. Her photobooths will be set up in two North Lismore locations and Living Lab Northern Rivers invites locals to come along — by yourself or with everyone in your family, local club, group or street!
On the day share the experience of group portraiture with others, bring memorabilia and personal stories, and help us to create some lasting memories of the neighbourhood you are part of.
Oral history interviews
A series of oral histories with North Lismore residents will be created as part of Living Memory. The collection of stories will explore the theme of home, community and locality in the words of locals from the areas where homes are being bought back.
How you can get involved
Community codesign workshop
If you’re a current or recent resident of North Lismore your local knowledge is vital to this project and we’d love you to be involved.
Come join Adele Wessell and Cherine Fahd as they share more about the project and learn how it can be designed with the interests of locals in mind.
Thursday 17 October, 5.00—7.00pm
Living Lab Northern Rivers shopfront
11 Woodlark Street, Lismore
Free. Places are limited and registrations are essential.
Tell your story pop-up photobooth
North Lismore’s community is invited to be centre-stage. Drop in at one of two photo booths in North Lismore to share the experience of group portraiture with others, bring memorabilia and personal stories, and help us to create some lasting memories of the neighbourhood you are part of. Bring yourself or come with everyone in your family, local club, group or street!
Friday 29 November
4.00-6.00pm
Saturday 30 November
8.30am—11am
43 Bridge Street, North Lismore (old general store building)
Oral history interviews
As part of Living Memory, we will be interviewing a group of North Lismore residents, to create a series of oral stories. The collection of stories will explore the theme of home, community and locality in the words of locals from the areas where homes are being bought back. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch with Living Lab Northern Rivers at livinglabnr@scu.edu.au.
Where will these stories be shared?
Digital archive
Living Memory will showcase the final series of oral histories and portraits, as well as a collection of historical materials and artefacts, ensuring they are accessible for long-term future reference. Together they will form a record of a North Lismore, it’s place and people, at a particular time.