Weaving a bit of magic to lift the community’s spirits

During these gloomy times, you might have noticed a splash of colour around town or a park bench that has been “yarn-bombed”. Patches of colour are making the town stand out as children and families join the Australia-wide Rainbow Trail trend. Narrogin resident Sharon Mason took to Facebook to raise interest in her plan to yarn-bomb the town. “This is a project that we as individuals can be involved in and can help build a stronger and more resilient community,” she said. “One that will withstand challenges that we’re all experiencing one way or another during this COVID-19 crisis. “This is for young and old and everyone in-between ... an activity that may help to shift the focus on to something a little more positive and perhaps help to brighten another person’s day.” On Saturday, Ms Mason took to the CBD with her crocheted flowers and butterflies, sticking them to public spaces including a park bench, a bike rack and a tree on Fortune Street. “I hope other people can now get involved by yarn-bombing key locations people frequent when they are in town doing essential business to get a bit of a spark for the day,” she said. Ms Mason said the Shire of Narrogin had come on board with the project, giving approval for the public to decorate places around the CBD. “We can all come together as a community and all do things to encourage each other, now more than ever, and I think that’s something really valuable and important,” she said. Ms Mason has also taken the time to crochet poppies for Anzac Day. “The fact Anzac Day is coming up and all the ceremonies have been cancelled, we can’t meet together in the way we would normally, so there seems to be a bit of interest out there for people wanting to do something crafty for Anzac and make poppies in different art forms,” she said. “I’ve just finished my poppy project and I’m hoping to place it down at Memorial Park.” Other residents have started decorating their homes for the Rainbow Trail. The Du Plessis family spent six hours colouring in the bricks of their house on Glyde Street with chalk as their contribution to the trail. Laney and Zach Birrell of Doney Street have made a rainbow creation that lights up in the shape of a heart to show “everybody holding hands because we are all in this together”. The siblings hope it will bring a smile to someone’s face. Ms Mason said people did not have to know how to crochet or knit to get involved. “Just get creative and put anything out there. It’s just to bring a little ray of sunshine as people go about their business,” she said.