Memories bring lanterns to life

ORGANISERS of the Lismore Lantern Parade have teamed up with local senior citizens to create some life-inspired lanterns for the upcoming parade.

Hazel Roberts of Lismore (front) with Cecil Hicks of Lismore Heights and Ivy Arthur of Goonellabah, with their lanterns. . Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

ORGANISERS of the Lismore Lantern Parade have teamed up with local senior citizens to create some life-inspired lanterns for the upcoming parade.

The Illuminating Life project aims to help seniors remember parts of their life and turn their memories into drawings on lanterns they have made.

The project has seen about 15 participants recall vivid memories, find common ground among other seniors and created a lively and positive environment.

“Through the workshop we are helping senior citizens in remembering special moments in their life,” Lismore Lantern Parade festival director Jyllie Jackson said.

“They have made some lanterns and I have drawn pictures onto their lanterns while they tell me the stories they remember about their childhood.

“It gives them a chance to reminisce because many of them live in the moment. They often find something in common with each other and put new networks of conversation in place.

“It allows their stories and things about them to be acknowledged.”

Ms Jackson and co-organiser Yoko Watson run the workshop each Tuesday along with a number of other school and community lantern workshops that are working towards the final parade in Lismore CBD on June 26.

Hazel Roberts, 69, is one of the illuminating life workshop participants.

“I had nothing to do at home and it was a bit boring,” Ms Roberts said.

“I like doing it because of the good company and mixing with people.

“My drawings on the lantern are about where I grew up, it’s about women’s business and I have used all the colours of the land and sea.

“If I get to use my lantern in the parade I will be really proud. I’d like to take my grandchildren with me too, I think they would be proud.”

There is still a few weeks left of lantern decorating and reminiscing to go and Ms Jackson says she plans to incorporate memories of her sisters and animals she is fond of into future drawings.

The lanterns will be used in an exhibition in Lismore in conjunction with the town’s Art in the Heart project on June 10.

There is still plenty of room in the workshops for eager locals and anyone interested can call Jyllie Jackson on 6622 6333.

For more information log on to www.lanternparade.com.

Originally published as Memories bring lanterns to life