SCU project brings river back to life

A project designed to bring people back to the Wilsons River in Lismore’s city centre is well under way with the first of six interpretive panels for a historic pagoda now complete.

The Wilsons River Development Project is a major project of Lismore City Council. The project includes the Wilsons River Experience Walk, which is being managed by Southern Cross University’s Regional Gateway, on behalf of the Council, and is due for completion in June.

Project Manager Ms Anne Hart said SCU historian Jo Kijas and Visual Arts lecturer Leonie Lane were working with a range of people in the community to create a cultural walking trail along the river.

The trail will include pagodas featuring interpretive panels providing information on the history and culture of the Lismore region.

“Wilsons River is a vital part of the reason why Lismore exists today. Early settlement here came about because of the access to water and transport. In pre-white settlement the Widjabal people enjoyed a good healthy lifestyle supported by the abundance of the river and the adjacent swampy areas,” Ms Hart said.

“This project is designed to bring people back to the river.”

The first pagoda to be built will be sited in Riverside Park adjacent to the Lismore RSL. It will have the theme “Gathering Place” and will include six interpretive panels which are being developed in conjunction with historians, Wilsons River Landcare and the local Widjabal consultants.

A full scale print of the first interpretive panel will be on display at the Richmond River Historical Society from Monday, March 7 to March 9. Ms Lane said the panel was titled: ‘An Industrious Space; a Social Place’.

“It’s like a king-size quilt. It focuses on the busy history of industrial, social and cultural activities in that area as Lismore developed,” Ms Lane said.

SCU historian Jo Kijas has also been working with people in the community tracing the history of the site, including people born in the Dongrayald hospital, which was on the same site as the Lismore RSL. The Lismore City Council is hoping to purchase the RSL for use as a community centre.

“I’m working closely with local historians and the Richmond River Historical Society. These people are the experts. I’m just drawing together the themes they have identified and turning it into a brief story which hopefully will entice visitors and locals to find out more.”

Aboriginal consultants for the project are Widjabal historian and linguist Roy Gordon and Widjabal artist Sheldon Harrington.

Anyone with a story to tell can contact Anne Hart at SCU Regional Gateway on 6626 9423.

Photo opportunity: Jo and Leonie will be at the Richmond River Historical Society at 10am, Wednesday, March 9.