Painting a path of hope

Summer, Jenna and Sandra Henry add some colour and cheer to their footpath. (Louisa Jones) 207773_4

Sandra Henry and daughters Jenna and Summer are among “thousands” of Geelong locals adding colour and cheer to their neighbourhood amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We walk our dog every day and we’ve been seeing all the rainbows in the windows and chalk on footpaths,” the Bell Post Hill mum told the Independent.

“There would have to be thousands around Geelong doing it. If there’s not a rainbow in the window there’s a teddy bear. We wanted to add to the happiness.”

Their recipe for happiness, which Sandra found online, is a simple mix of flour, water and lots of food colouring.

Most recently Sandra, Jenna, 13, and Summer, 10, painted a frog, a rainbow, messages to “bee positive” and the Earth, with the words peace, love and hope.

“I think that’s what the Earth the needs,” Sandra said.

“We all just decided to pick a square and do what makes us happy.

“There’s a lot of people exercising at the moment so it’s nice for them to see something bright and cheerful.

“Lots of kids are smiling as they walk past, which is nice in this sad world.”

Summer and Jenna were coping OK with remote learning as Sandra and hubby Sean continued to work in disability services, she said.

“They’re finding it fun but they’re missing their friends. We’re essential workers so we’re grateful to have jobs at the moment.

“We’re very close to our family and have many relatives that live local, so we’re all missing each other.”