The Lismore Women’s Refuge will celebrate an extraordinary milestone in 2028 – 50 years of service to women and children in our region. For half a century, the Refuge has been a place of safety, strength, activism, and community care. Yet it’s herstory has never been formally documented and those who helped build it know this is a story that must not be lost.
A collective of the original Refuge workers (pictured) – the true OGs (Originals, not Old Gals!) are currently working on a book about the Refuge and are now gathering memories, records, and personal accounts to ensure this hersory is preserved for future generations. They are calling on the community to help piece together the early days of the Refuge, much of which predates the internet and the digitisation of organisational records.
If you have personal experience with the Refuge, contributed to it’s work over the years, or know someone who was involved in its formation, your knowledge and stories are deeply valued. Every memory helps strengthen the tapestry of this important feminist and community legacy.
The Lismore Women’s Refuge later became part of NORWACS, now Women’s Health Northern Rivers, but its roots, and the women who built it, remain a vital part of our region’s herstory.
To share your story or connect with the project, you can reach out by emailing us at admin@whnr.org.au. We’d love to hear from you.
#50thAnniversary #womensrefuge #HerStoryInTheMaking #HerStory #Lismore