Cards hope to create smiles for Anna

ANNA Greaney’s parents have asked the Portarlington community to celebrate what would have been their daughter’s third birthday with random acts of kindness.

The adventurous and fun-loving little girl tragically drowned near the town’s pier last September, and parents Billee and Patrick want to make Anna’s birthday on February 9 a day full of smiles instead of tears.

Billee said her mum created some small cards featuring photos of Anna that she would love to see passed around the community along with some small acts of kindness.

“Our Anna loved flowers and always came galloping in the front door with a fist full of sour grass flowers for me,” Billee said.

“I was hoping people might take one of these cards and share it with someone else along with a small act of kindness or a flower under someone’s windscreen in memory of Annie.

“Another idea I loved is people getting creative and writing Anna’s name in different places.

“It could be in the sand or in chalk on the side of a fence or building, maybe down at the pier where she loved to be (please don’t deface property permanently) or whatever your imagination might come up with.”

About 10 businesses across Portarlington have already put their hand up to place some of these cards at a counter so people can collect them.

Billee, Patrick and two of their children Nate and Miranda, are currently in Ireland visiting family and are hoping to return to Portarlington once flight restrictions ease due to COVID-19.

“Hopefully by July things will have settled and we can be home in time for the first anniversary of Anna’s passing in September … I long to sit down at the pier and be where my baby once was.”

In the meantime, Billee has created the “Anna Greaney celebration page” on Facebook, described as being “for anyone, anywhere in the world, who wants to support Anna’s family, and celebrate her life – particularly through milestone events”.

Billee and Patrick would love it if people taking part in the initiative could post photos to the Facebook page.

Cards will be available at Portovino, Port Produce Tree, Rose Quartz, Jenkins Seafood and Just Next Door, along with My-Shell Beauty in St Leonards and St Andrews Uniting Church which will have a few to distribute at a church service on February 7.