WHEN Sandra Tomlinson moved to Bannockburn a year ago, she brought with her a fun idea that really rocks.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s designing, painting and hiding small rocks for the young and young at heart to find in an effort to bring more colour and joy into people\u2019s lives amid challenging times.<\/p>\n
In her Facebook group, Bannockburn Rocks, Ms Tomlinson posts photos and location clues to help about 150 members find the little works of art scattered around town.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought this would be really nice to get families, individuals, couples or friends out in the fresh air, exercising and it\u2019s good for the soul, as well as for the kiddies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously at the moment it\u2019s super difficult so we all need that extra push to go out and have a purpose rather than to just not know where to walk, what to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives people more of a purpose on where to go and when the kiddies, or adults for that matter, find them it\u2019s really great.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just absolutely love sharing that and seeing the smile on people\u2019s faces when they find one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Tomlinson ran a similar operation where she used to live and estimates she has painted some 1000 rocks in total.<\/p>\n
Taking inspiration from Pinterest and Google, or requests from Facebook group members, she paints anything from animals and TV characters to patterns and flowers. She insists she\u2019s no artist but \u201cjust a regular person that loves to craft.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so passionate about families spending time together. I love crafting, I\u2019ve always crafted with my children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got two boys, my 12-year-old does like to paint as well, but it\u2019s encouraged even for small children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a little two- or three-year-old wants to put a blob of paint on a rock and hide it, that is still as perfect and wonderful as all the nice character stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s encouraged for anybody with no experience whatsoever, you can\u2019t do a bad rock,\u201d she said. \u201cSomebody\u2019s going to love finding it whether it\u2019s a really polished piece or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Community members regularly post their finds on the Facebook group, with some choosing to hold onto a rock as a keepsake.<\/p>\n
Most, however, are re-hidden and Ms Tomlinson said her rocks have managed to travel as far as Gippsland, Adelaide, New South Wales and even the UK.<\/p>\n
As for the next set of rocks to be hidden, Ms Tomlinson said she\u2019s working on designs that include inspirational quotes and hopes to keep the initiative going as long as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t plan on closing it, it\u2019ll just keep going and going and hopefully just get more and more people involved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
To join in the fun, search Bannockburn Rocks on Facebook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHEN Sandra Tomlinson moved to Bannockburn a year ago, she brought with her a fun idea that really rocks. She\u2019s designing, painting and hiding small rocks for the young and young at heart to find in an effort to bring more colour and joy into people\u2019s lives amid challenging times. In her Facebook group, Bannockburn […]<\/p>\n