St Leonards begins “yarn bomb” of main strip

CHRISTMAS cheer has come early in St Leonards with the town’s popular yarn bombings already popping up along the town’s main strip.

The St Leonards Progress Association and community supporters have begun installing seven of more than two dozen yarn bombings that will be placed along Murradoc Road as part of this year’s Christmas festivities.

Progress association convenor Marie Reed said the organisation looks forward to the creation of the yarn bombings each year, deciding on each one’s tree position months in advance.

“Community groups like the Bellarine Women’s Workshop are always excited to participate in the yarn bombings each year,” Ms Reed said.

“A lot of preparation goes into this, from getting the appropriate permits from the City of Greater Geelong to creating the yarn bombings each year, to celebrating Christmas each year.

“It took off from when we started several years ago and it’s very unique to this part of the Bellarine. We should have 26 yarn bombings up when the setup is fully complete.”

The yarn bombings have been an annual project dating back to 2020 and initially began as a “pandemic project”, according to Ms Reed.

The community received the initiative well and has volunteered to assist the association every year since, with all yarn bombing made from community-given donated goods.

“We constantly get good feedback from residents, as well as summer visitors, who always look forward to seeing the new yarn bombings and take pictures alongside them,” Ms Reed said.

“We expect the remainder of the yarn bombings to go up inside the next fortnight.”

The City of Greater Geelong will also place Christmas lights along Murradoc Road next week to complete the town’s celebration decorations.

Planning and bookings are already underway for 2025’s yarn bombings.