Montrose community light up homes to get through coronavirus lockdown
While most of us are feeling pretty gloomy this winter, a Yarra Valley community has come up with a great way to raise spirits during lockdown. And they want to know if you will join in.
Outer East
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In these darks times a tight-knit Yarra Valley community is spreading its light and hoping the movement shines into people’s hearts during lockdown.
For many who live there, Montrose is a unique and interconnected town at the foot of the Dandenongs – and such a lovely place to live, people move into the outer suburb to be in walking distance from friends and family.
And the Montrose Township Group decided to start its Let’s Light Up Lockdown campaign to spread good cheer during what has turned out to be a bleak winter.
Through social media the group of volunteers posted a call to arms for residents to add a “little sparkle” to the town by breaking out the tinsel and fairy lights and covering trees, letterboxes, houses and add snowflakes to windows.
“Let’s light up lock down, Montrose!” the post said.
And so far many of the community are getting on-board the inspirational initiative.
For Melissa Smith joining in the movement was a family affair with husband Ryan and daughter Veronique, 14, working to create a huge snowflake for everyone to see.
Mrs Smith said teen daughter Veronique used her artistic talent to design a snowflake, and husband Ryan fashioned the 2m by 2m structure, which the family wrapped in fairy lights.
“Montrose is a really great community and for this to happen has been perfect,” Mrs Smith said.
“We’re quite into decorating for Christmas and Halloween and we often walk to friends and family’s houses to see the lights.”
She said it was fantastic to be able to spread light throughout the town and help those people who were struggling through lockdown.
“We’re trying to focus on the positives right now and what we have now,” she said.
Township volunteer Chelsey Cooper said the inspiration for the movement came from the Belgrave Lantern Parade.
“We all need some light in our lives and now we’re in lockdown we thought how can we do that,” Ms Cooper said.
She said the post has generated a great response by not only Montrosian’s but also other suburbs as far away as Rowville.
“We’re back in lockdown and it’s been a bit of a blow and we want to get to that moment where we can add a bit of sparkle and glow to people’s live,” Ms Cooper said.
She said all kinds of households had taken part and some businesses as well.
Ms Cooper said the Montrose CFA was also taking part and putting up fairy lights and snowflakes as well.
“Now you could go have a winter walk around and enjoy the lovely lights around the neighbourhood,” she said.
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