By Janelle Saffin MP
State Member for Lismore
I WAS thrilled to be part of the opening of the 31st Lismore Lantern Parade’s Fiery Finale at Oakes Oval last month (June).
From the stage I looked out and made the comment that this appeared to be the biggest crowd I had seen at this iconic Northern Rivers event, in addition to the people on the streets and in cars spread far and wide beyond Lismore Square Shopping Centre and the Lismore Base Hospital precinct.
Such is the local and regional drawing power of this enduring celebration of community spirit each Winter Solstice.
I congratulate Jyllie Jackson OAM, her hard-working committee, and team of volunteers and lantern carriers, on staging another great spectacle for the City of Lismore.
Families and individuals rugged up on a cold night to watch the parade of around 2,500 participants, including students from all the schools in the region, make its way along Molesworth, Magellan and Dawson streets to Oakes Oval.
The heart at the start of the Fiery Finale was a memorial to locals who had inspired others over the history of the parade, who have passed away.
Remembered with love were Sara Tinning, John Lush, Joanne Kambourian, Karen Coyle, Paul Barrett, Suzanne Olesen, John Miller, Issy Brent, Bede Flynn, John Fox and Heather Wood.
Warming to the Finale’s theme of ‘the Return of the Sun’, Jyllie Jackson said: “Let tonight be a reminder, no matter how big the shadows, how heavy the rain, the sun always rises. So do we.”
The theme is a nod to the Chinese Year of the Snake, which represents transformation, but it can mean many things.
It has spiritual significance in many cultures, symbolising hope, renewal and the triumph of light over darkness, as Jyllie alluded to.
Here in the Northern Rivers region, where we have experienced natural disasters like the floods of 2017 and 2022 and the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, the natural phenomena of the sunrise can also make us feel optimistic for better days in future.
In keeping with tradition, Jyllie Jackson’s secret 2025 message was revealed in flames, “Time For Kindness’. A short fireworks display followed.
It had been a number of years since Oakes Oval was used as the venue for the Fiery Finale, but the grandstands and grassed area were full, making it another huge success.
I thank my friend Jyllie Jackson for founding and nurturing the Lismore Lantern Parade, a nationally and internationally recognised, award-winning festival celebrating the Winter Solstice.
This festival has grown in stature from small beginnings and brings together local artists, businesses and communities to create a magical spectacular for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The Visit Lismore Facebook page profiled Jyllie as a local legend who embodies Lismore’s spirit of creativity, resilience and community. On the night, I called her a superstar.
The Visit Lismore page says Jyllie has dedicated decades to fostering community engagement through art, storytelling and celebration.
Her passion for lantern making and illuminated performances has transformed the parade into a signature event for Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers region.
I also acknowledge that in attendance at the parade was a delegation from our sister city, Yamatotakada. The sister city agreement was struck with Lismore City Council in 1963.
In a world often wracked by division and conflict, we need more lantern parades to spread harmony and peace.
SECRET MESSAGE: Lismore Lantern Parade 2025’s Fiery Finale at Oakes Oval. Photo: Peter Derrett.
