In the first Covid lockdown for Canberra way back in early 2020, the national capital rallied with some encouraging ventures such as the bear hunt, where residents placed teddy bears at their front windows and on their front porches to help keep children motivated and entertained during their allotted time outside.
A little over a week into Lockdown 2.0, Canberra is already showing some of that same community spirit. And it's often our younger residents leading the way.
Such as Red Hill sisters Allegra and Siri Taubenschlag.
The girls have made posters with encouraging slogans such as "Don't Count the Days, Make the Days Count", "Life is Tough, But You are Tougher", "Stay at Home, 'Cause You're Not Alone" and, the perennial favourite, "We're All in This Together".
They've erected them on the back fence of their home in Red Hill to encourage the walkers and runners who use the neighbouring Red Hill Nature Reserve for their one hour of outside exercise during the lockdown.
The girls also made and decorated masks to give away, making them available on the reserve for people to pick up as they walked.
They started putting up the signs and masks on Monday.
"We did it because it was really inspirational for other people," Siri, 10, said.
"And in hard times it was a good chance to have some motivation."
"Also for the community spirit," Allegra, 12, said.
"We live on a busy part of Red Hill and we thought it would brighten up these uncertain and dark times."
And the reserve has only become busier during lockdown.
"Definitely," Allegra said. "There's lots of people walking past with their dogs".
The girls had already received some positive feedback.
"A lot of people are taking photos," Siri said.
"Also, if we're outside, people are saying they look really good."
They love being able to make even a small difference to someone's day.
Both girls attend Canberra Girls Grammar School which has acknowledged their efforts, posting photographs on the school Facebook page.
"We are proud of the girls for engaging with their community in their own unique way, during a very difficult period," the school said.
Allegra is junior school head girl and said she did feel some responsibility, even at home, to lead by example and show some community spirit. "Yes, definitely," she said.
And the idea is catching on. "We talk to our next door neighbours through the fence and we told them we were making signs and they said they would make them as well," Siri said.
But the sisters aren't the only ones spreading joy in their community.
Walkers around Monash have also noticed little handmade signs literally strewn among the leaves and grass on the ground as they take their hour of exercise.
Canberra's favourite photographer Jodi Shepherd discovered several in Monash, her "kind neighbourhood" as she looked down during her walk and saw words of encouragement staring back at her.
"The family who did it watched us from their balcony and yelled out, 'Enjoy'!" she said.
