The organisers of the Lismore Lantern Parade (which is happening on Saturday, 19 June) are seeking volunteers to help with the event, which draws thousands of visitors each year.
Community champion and local councillor Elly Bird has had a long association with Lismore’s signature event. She says, ‘There are a wide variety of roles to fill and there is something for everyone. Please consider volunteering some time – many hands really do make light work!’
Lanterns with benefits
The Echo asked Jyllie Jackson, the CEO and creative mind behind LightnUp Inc, which produces the Lismore Lantern Parade, what volunteers might expect.
‘The lantern parade is wonderful melting pot of humanity,’ she said.
‘In the workshop today we had a group of primary school children from Lismore Heights Public School with their principal, completing one of the big props for the finale, and creating little pyramid lanterns for their fellow students to decorate.
‘The school has brought students to be engaged in the lantern workshop for many years now, learning about community service in real life.
‘We also welcomed a couple of ladies from the CWA and I think there were people from five or six different nationalities side by side creating something beautiful,’ said Ms Jackson.
‘It is a great place to meet people. Working together on something greater than you is a powerful energy.
‘There have been many long-lasting friendships and even a few romances have begun in the warm glow of the lanterns and bonfire,’ she said.
‘We work very hard we get really tired and yet push through, discovering so much about ourselves and each other – creating a wonderful gift for our community and beyond.
‘We also have our mayor coming in and getting gluey making lanterns for the community!‘ Ms Jackson added.
How to help
The Lantern Parade are particularly recruiting the following people:
- Volunteers to help make and mend lanterns – needed NOW.
- Volunteers to help make fire props for the show – needed NOW.
- Volunteers to carry lanterns and/or fire in the show – rehearsals are this weekend and a dress rehearsal on Friday the 18th.
- Volunteers to help bump in the site from Monday the 14th.
- Help on gates and with seating for the event on the 19th.
Community-minded people from across the region are invited to register their interest online here: https://www.lismorelanternparade.com.au/volunteer-time
And if you don’t have your tickets yet (the Lantern Parade will be an all-day event at Lismore Showground this year, due to COVID restrictions), you can purchase them here: https://lismoretickets.com.au/event/lismore-lantern-parade-13271
Jyllie Jackson said the program had something for everyone in 2021. ‘We’re really thrilled to have Costa Dirtgirl and Scrapboy in real life mixing it with the peeps this year!’
Dine and Discover vouchers can be used to purchase tickets via selected Lismore businesses including Music Bizarre.
Find out more about the Lantern Parade on Facebook.
The psychology of volunteering is curios indeed. God bless ‘em.