Where’s Wally wonder while wandering

FAMILIES across the city are heading outdoors for their daily exercise with the same question, ‘where’s Wally?’

Pictures of the iconic red-and-white-stripe-wearing book character have been printed, laminated, cut out and hidden around Ballarat parks, ready for children to find.

An initiative of Natasha Driscoll, the game began almost two weeks ago at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve. Ms Driscoll has a five-year-old daughter and hoped to entertain other locked-down families.

“Last year, we went to Warrnambool and found some Wallies along a beach walk. My daughter, husband and I were super excited about it all. We thought, we can do that,” she said.

“We went out on a Sunday and spent time hiding them and having heaps of fun.

“While the playgrounds are closed, this is something fun for the kids to do. It makes a walk around a park much more exciting if you’re looking out for something.”

Ms Driscoll also created a Facebook community for participants in the Alfredton and Lucas area. The group was created at lunchtime, and as the sun went down that day, at least 100 people were engaged.

“It has grown exponentially. One of my daughter’s teachers in Lucas has started one there and my friend Louise has started one in Brown Hill.

“There are also Wallies in Miners Rest, The Chase Central Park in Alfredton, Russell Square, and there are soon to be some in Yorkdale Estate, and even Hamilton,” Ms Driscoll said.

“Someone has also done a Where’s Bluey? in Springs Road, Brown Hill, so the idea is spreading.”

To ensure local children can continue to enjoy hunting through the lockdown extension, Ms Driscoll is regularly moving the hidden Wallies in her local area.

“We were putting them around on Friday ready for the weekend. We saw some people there who said they have been loving the activity and that they were thankful. It’s such a nice feeling.

“It’s a horrible time, so we’re excited that people have embraced it, are loving it, and are motivated to go outside and do something different,” Ms Driscoll said.

“Maybe by the end of lockdown we’ll have one in every Ballarat park.”

A separate initiative including Where’s Wally QR codes has been introduced in Mount Clear along the Canadian Creek Trail between Hocking Avenue and Recreation Road.