Humans of Lismore founder plans on publishing anthology

A jack of all trades with a fascination for the human condition is collecting hundreds of interviews spanning a decade for a special North Coast anthology. Here is her story.

Humans of Lismore founder and author Denise Alison. Picture: Cath Piltz

A retired jack-of-all-trades who has interviewed hundreds of North Coast locals over the past decade is planning to launch their stories in a special edition anthology later this year.

Denise Alison, founder and creator of much loved Facebook page Humans of Lismore, said she started the page because she loved what Brandan Stanton had done called Humans of New York.

“He would walk the streets of New York and just talk to random strangers and find out a bit about their stories and I loved that,” Ms Alison said.

Humans of Lismore creator Denise Alison. Picture: Cath Piltz

After hearing a group in Byron Bay belittling her hometown, she wondered how a Humans of Lismore would work.

“I was so nervous thinking who would want to talk to me, but the first one I did was a young lady selling daffodils for cancer and we ended up having a hug at the end because she’d lost her mum,” she said.

“She was the very first story and so I made a page on Facebook and called it Humans of Lismore, and people loved it.”

Ms Alison said the stories helped to connect the community.

“I’ve done a few busker interviews like Moppy and Billy and they say people now come up to them and say they’ve read their story and loved it,” she said.

Ms Alison said she told the story of an elderly man who used to frequent Fundies in Lismore and never smiled because he couldn’t afford dental work.

After writing his story Ms Alison and the community raised funds for him to receive dentures.

“Then one day he came into the store with this big smile on his face. All through the generosity of the page,” she said.

After interviewing people from all walks of life, Ms Alison said everyone had a story.

“You laugh and you cry together and I just find it’s a lovely way to bring people together,” she said.

The fascination for human stories is worldwide with Humans of Lismore attracting followers from 22 countries around the globe among the 27,000 followers of the page.

“Quite famous musicians follow it and many people from all walks of life,” Ms Alison said.

“It draws an audience of good people – I don’t get trolls or nasty people.”

After starting her working life at 15, Ms Alison has spent time with Sullivan Nicolaides, Fundamental Foods, worked in real estate, with bands and as a photographer.

Humans of Lismore founder and writer Denise Alison. Picture: Cath Piltz

“I’ve raised three daughters on my own, and I have six grandchildren now,” she said.

“I’ve had a very busy, interesting, creative life – I really enjoy talking to people.”

Currently Ms Alison is awaiting the outcome of a grant application to publish a 250 page hardcover coffee table style book.

“If I don’t get the grant I will still publish it,” she said.

To accommodate the volume of interviews, the book will include a photograph and paragraph from each story with a QR code that directs readers to an accompanying website.

“Often people make a judgement about somebody without knowing anything about their history,” Ms Alison said.

“After reading about them all of a sudden there is empathy … a totally different idea of what that person would be like. It makes people feel not so alone.”

Plans to launch the Humans of Lismore anthology have strong interest from the Richmond Tweed Library and Lismore Book Warehouse.

If you’d like to help sponsor the project get in touch with Humans of Lismore via their Facebook page.

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