Cathy Henkel – I came to Lismore in 1978 to train as a school teacher, I taught in every school in Lismore, primary, secondary, tertiary, there was no uni then but also many outlying schools like Jiggi, Nimbin. Then we formed Nomads Theatre Company which was based here in Lismore and toured all round NSW and I had this very vibrant lovely life in Lismore, very involved in theatre here, got married here in the Rochdale theatre on the stage! so cute! then moved to Sydney for 15 yrs as my husband got into NIDA. A few years later when I had my first child, I thought, where do I want my child to grow up and live? Lismore! so we came back so Sam Lara, my daughter grew up here ,was educated here and also my documentary career began here, so I started making more films, ran a TAFE women’s film course which you attended (me) and I’m still friends with the women from that course.
Two of my films were shot partly in Lismore, The one about my mother ‘ The man who stole my mothers face’ and ‘Losing Layla’. I spent 17 years here and it was the foundation of my career so I feel a deep connection and love for Lismore, I love the way it’s kept it’s heart, it’s kept it’s authenticity, and its feeling of community! You know I’ve come up here today because we had a screening of my latest film in a little art space in the backstreets of Lismore last night with The greens and there was curries and yummy food and we had dinner at 20,000 cows (the restaurant) It’s just got this beautiful feeling of community that lives here and thrives here and things don’t change and in a way I love that!
Cathys latest film is’ Rise of the Eco Warriors’ see it!