The more smiles the better
One small act of kindness can make a huge difference. That is the motto driving four Wimmera people behind a ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week’ project in Horsham.
Dannae Woolman, Brody Short, Brooke Macinnes and Mary Bysouth are completing the project as part of Leadership Wimmera’s Regional Leadership Skills program through Wimmera Development Association.
Ms Bysouth said realising someone had taken time to do something unexpected for you could not only put a smile on your face, but make your day.
“The aim of this project is to take some time from our hectic lives and think about other people – give something back, cheer someone up, help take the pressure off or just simply put a smile on someone’s face.
“We also hope Random Acts of Kindness Week prompts community members to continue being kind, thoughtful and showing gratitude long after the project concludes.”
Mr Short said while group members believed random acts of kindness should not be restricted to a certain week, they created the week to encourage the community to put kindness into action.
He said project organisers had many suggestions for people wishing to participate.
“We’re asking people to commit to the cause by liking our Facebook page, ‘Random Acts of Kindness Week Horsham’,” he said.
“We invite members of the community to post their random act of kindness on the page.”
Mr Short said information packs featuring ideas were available.
They include a card to give to the recipient of an act of kindness, containing an invitation to a community sausage sizzle.
“We also have a Facebook event being circulated in the hope that participants will RSVP to the sausage sizzle,” he said.
“We have no idea how to gauge how many people will come for lunch, but will be there with a smile on our faces and eager to hear about people’s acts of kindness.”
Ms Macinnes said regional businesses had sponsored the barbecue and helped with promotional costs.
“A very big thanks goes to Mallee Branded, Morrow Motor Group, Hillross Financial, Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN, Horsham Rural City Council and Wimmera Funerals, which have come on board as our sponsors so far,” she said.
Ms Macinnes also thanked project mentor and Leadership Wimmera mentor Gavin Morrow.
“Gav has been great, helping us identify potential barriers within our project that we overlooked or didn’t think about,” she said.
“He’s also helped us come up with some great ideas to promote our project.”
Random Acts of Kindness Week Horsham runs from August 28 to September 1.
Ms Woolman said festivities would conclude with the sausage sizzle at Horsham’s May Park on September 1 from noon to 2pm.
“As our random act of kindness, we have also decided to donate any leftover sausages and surplus money to the Horsham Christian Emergency Food Centre,” she said.