It has been an extraordinary year for the Northern Rivers community - February's flood impacted the entire community, including our kids.
It is fitting that some of those kids are the stars of this year's Our Kids calendar, a project raising funds for the Lismore Base Hospital Children's Ward.
To mark the 21st calendar this year, Jacklyn Wagner photographed children who have been in the hospital for ongoing care or needed medical attention due to the flood. She captured these children with an item that was dear to them that survived the flood.
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"The calendar project is a massive body of work, but this year, in particular, has been incredible; so many local children have lost everything and have a story. It is a privilege to be part of this project," Jacklyn said.
Violet is one of the children photographed. Her family were rescued from their roof and taken via a boat to the evacuation centre, where they stayed for several days. Violet is proud of rescuing Rainbow Dash, who she loves dearly.
Brielle is another child in the calendar, and she's photographed with her special bunny, Bub Bun, given to her by her great-aunt. Brielle has asthma, and she had an asthma attack during the flood.
The ambulance could not get to their house, the helicopter was unavailable, and there was limited phone reception. Fortunately, Brielle's mother, Elizabeth, is also asthmatic had Ventolin to treat Brielle. They were isolated for a week, and finally got to see a doctor two weeks after her attack.
Since 2003 over 250 children have been photographed and celebrated by the Our Kids Calendar team who also have remained the same for 21 years.
Jacklyn captures the calendar children each child beautifully, local graphic designer Soren Hjorth from Lismore's Graphiti Design brings the design and Shaun McGuiness from Lismore City Printery sorts the paper to ensure the calendar is printed with the best result.
The team has expanded to include Rhonda Armistead from Armistead Picture Framing. The result is a beautifully framed version that hangs in the foyer of Lismore Base Hospital for 12 months, which is then gifted to the featured child's family.
Soren, Shaun and Rhonda's businesses were inundated with flood water and have worked hard to reopen. The Our Kids office was also flooded to the roof, and recently moved back in.
This year the money raised from the calendar will go towards a "Giraffe Resuscitation unit" for the Children's Ward. The Giraffe Infant Resuscitation and Warmer will provide a lifesaving piece of equipment to assist with safe, effective resuscitation that provides warmth and care of very sick babies.
Due to their sponsors' generosity, the production's full cost is covered, allowing all monies raised through the sale to go directly to Our Kids.
This year's sponsors are extra special, as every one of them was also affected by the flood; they are; Be seen Eyewear, Goonellabah Medical Centre, McDonalds, North Coast Radiology, Richmond Waste, Southern Cross University, WCA Accountants, Westpac Bank, Richmond Sand and Gravel, Hurford Hardwood, Lismore Printery and North Coast Petroleum.
The calendar is on sale from November 30 for $20.00. For a full list of outlets, or to order online, go to www.ourkids.org.au.
