Knysna rocks
There is a new, gentle way of reaching out to one another in the aftermath of the Knysna fires.
“Knysna Rocks is a kind of treasure hunt using painted pebbles,” said Ashley Barnes, the founder of the Knysna Rocks Facebook group, who’s dedicated herself to promoting the concept locally.
“You paint them and hide them for others to find, and if you find one, you keep it or re-hide it for someone else.
“It’s a way of spreading a little bit of joy in the community because, as Mahatma Gandi said, ‘In a gentle way, you can shake the world’.”
Barnes was inspired to bring the idea to Knysna after a friend, Greta Barber, created a similar group – Tas Rocks – for the community in which she now lives in Tasmania.
“I moved to Knysna from a busy corporate life in Cape Town because I wanted to enjoy the beauty and the lifestyle here, and I certainly haven’t been disappointed,” said Barnes.
“But the fires were a traumatic wake-up call for all of us – and even though most of the talk now is about rebuilding, it’s sometimes also quite depressing.
“Knysna Rocks is a way of distracting ourselves from that,” she continued. “It’s about families enjoying each other, and spending time outside in nature, which is what Knysna’s all about.
“Since I have a background in the arts, I know that creativity cures. Being able to express ourselves positively and uniquely, and being able to recognise that same creative and optimistic spirit in others, is healing,” she said.
Barnes said that the rules of the game are simple.
“Paint a rock, and drop it off in a public place for someone else to find – and if you find a painted rock, keep it to cheer yourself up, or re-hide it for someone else.
“But just keep posting whatever you do with the rocks on the Facebook group so that everyone can share the love,” she said.
“That way the creativity and the spirit of solidarity and fun will just keep on increasing exponentially.” – Supplied
* Find the group on Facebook/Knysna Rocks