Northern NSW photographer Jacklyn Wagner’s embarks on Our Kids charity book passion project

A North Coast photographer has launched a lengthy passion project to get in touch with people she snapped as youngsters for a much-loved local charity helping kids with special medical needs.

Renown North Coast photographer Jacklyn Wagner's 25-year labour of love has turned into a backed passion project to bring more than 300 images from Our Kids calendars to life for a special commemorative book.

A renowned photographer has begun a two-and-a-half year passion project to get in touch with people she snapped as bubs or toddlers for a much-loved North Coast charity.

Jacklyn Wagner will be working to get stories behind images she has captured for the annual Our Kids calendars to put together a special 25th anniversary book.

Jacklyn Wagner photojournalist.

Our Kids, once known as the Northern Rivers Children’s Health Fund, was established by local paediatrician Doctor Chris Ingall in 2001

Board members include fundraising co-ordinator Rebekka Battista – who recently celebrated 20 years with the charity – and chair Suzette Pearce.

Our Kids raises money for children’s wards, special care nurseries and women’s care units, focusing on youngsters with special medical needs.

Ms Wagner, a former photojournalist for The Northern Star, has been chief photographer on the calendar since 2003 and has taken more than 300 shots.

North Coast paediatrician and Our Kids stalwart Dr Chris Ingall. Picture: Media-mode.com

“Basically, in 2027 it will be the 25th anniversary of Our Kids calendar,” she said.

“My dream is in 2027 to have the book launch at the same time as the Our Kids calendar to mark its 25th anniversary.

Summah Castles is all smiles in the 2004 Our Kids calendar. She was born with a genetic condition called optis syndrome. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

“I’ll select 25 of my most iconic images to be on display as well.

“The book will be really beautiful.”

Ms Wagner said the project has Our Kids’ backing and the book is set to include hundreds of images.

The calendars feature kids in the Special Care Nursery, Children’s Ward, or who need ongoing care at Lismore Base Hospital.

Esther Knowland was 14-weeks premature and weighed just 600 grams. She was in the 2022 our Kids calendar. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

Madison Cadonetti was in the first 2003 Our Kids calendar. She was 12 weeks premature. She is now an adult and still calls Lismore home. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

As a former photojournalist with this Lismore masthead, Ms Wagner said she is used to photographing people in varied situations and circumstances.

Ms Wagner does not find it too confronting to liase with parents, medical workers and carers to take photos of children battling with health issues, but is conscious that “you’re being allowed into the life of children and their families”.

Ms Wagner tries to lift spirits: “I often tell them they’ll be very famous celebrities and their pictures will be up on the hospital walls.”

Tracking down subjects of photos taken years ago has been a challenge.

“ … some of the people I photographed will be in their 20s now, and some even older,” Ms Wagner said.

However, she was confident social media would be a big help.

Ashton Hayes was born with cerebral palsy and a rare chromosomal depletion. She was snapped for the 2015 Our Kids calendar. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

Ms Wagner has been assisted by graphic designer and owner of GraphitiDesign Soren Hjorth and Lismore City Printery owner Shaun McGuiness, as well as Dr Ingall.

Dr Ingall said when he first got Ms Wagner on board for the calendar years ago, they were certainly “a little bit thinner on the ground”.

He recalled Ms Wagner initially offering to help while on holidays from her day job.

Elsie and Delilah Stanford were 12 week premature. They had to overcome many hurdles – and were in the 2022 Our Kids calendar. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

Dr Ingall has thrown his support behind the commemorative book, described it as a “no-brainer”.

“Our Kids are happy to support her in the doing of it, because at the end of the day it’s a win-win,” he said.

Dr Ingall said the calendar highlights inspiring children and makes them feel recognised – and like something of a celebrity.

“I would like this book to be an extension of that. So when it’s put together each child in the book (that) has pictures, they will feel as though they are really special,” he said.

“That’s what we want to showcase.”

Watch this space for the latest on the Our Kids book.