By Laura Michell
Families across Doreen and Mernda are going on bear hunts and following rainbow trails as the community looks for ways to spread cheer amid new social distancing regulations.
Members of a new community Facebook group, called Doreen Community Spirit, are encouraging locals to add colour to the streets by creating rainbows, and to take part in the bear hunt by putting teddy bears in their front windows for children to find.
Doreen Community Spirit founders Lauryn Bahen and Yvonne Vuillermin said the rainbow trail was an inclusive community art project.
“Rainbows are bright, positive and for many, are a sign of hope. We wanted to brighten up our community and remind others that after the greatest of storms there is always a rainbow,” they said.
“Many in our community are struggling due to the current coronavirus crisis and those vulnerable are facing even harder times ahead. We want to remind people that they are not alone and that we are all in this together.”
Doreen’s Cassie Burrows, who started the bear hunt locally, said the simple act of putting bears in windows and creating rainbows had brought the community together.
Ms Burrows said there were about 400 or 500 people in Doreen and Mernda who were taking part in the bear hunt.
Details: bit.ly/3axmqBE
