City Hall is lighting up this Christmas with festive projections that celebrate and encourage kindness, inspired by local kindergarten children.
We believe that kindness comes from the heart, so this year the City has partnered with not-for-profit Meli to ask kindergarteners to draw, colour and express what kindness and hope at Christmas means to them. The initiative aims to teach this value to children and to get them to think about how they can show kindness in their own lives.
Projection artist Olaf Meyer, his team from Multimedia Events and City staff held workshops at Meli kindergartens in Geelong, seeing the youngsters decorating paper hearts.
City Hall on Gheringhap Street will light up from dusk until midnight each day from this Saturday 30 November until Tuesday 7 January with images and messages of kindness, as seen through the eyes of local children.
The colourful and insightful paper hearts will be displayed in an exhibition at our Geelong Regional Libraries and Geelong Gallery as part of the initiative.
Meli, is also working in partnership with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre to call on the community to give kindness by donating to the Geelong Giving Tree Appeal.
Last year’s appeal supported more than 2,445 local residents, including 1,422 children, helping to bring a little bit of joy on Christmas Day.
From now until Tuesday 10 December, you can play a part in bringing joy to those who need it most by donating or fundraising for the Meli Appeal.
Mayor Dr Stretch Kontelj OAM
The Christmas projections at City Hall are beautiful and inspiring.
It’s amazing to hear straight from the source about how local children in our community think about and embody kindness during the festive season.
City staff were left in awe at their incredible spirit, imagination, and empathy during the workshops.
It’s well worth checking out these heartwarming projections with the family and sparking up a conversation about the spirit of Christmas.
Charlemont ward Councillor Emma Sinclair
Council is excited to be part of such a special project.
Christmas offers us a reminder to be kind, think about others’ needs and build connections, and I thank all the talented children who contributed to this message.
If you’re in a position to do so, please consider donating to the Meli Appeal and spreading kindness to local families doing it tough.
