Soon my daughter sits her final drive test for her license. So this afternoon we went driving for some more practice. We ended up way off the beaten track, into the hills beyond where we live. To a tiny little place called Strathewen.
It’s a pretty area. Rolling green hills, olive and apple orchards with wineries nearby and some of the most gorgeous mosaic letter boxes … in one of the most amazing communities.
Back in 2009, in what became known as Black Saturday, this tiny hamlet was decimated by bush fire. One of the few homes that survived
belonged to local mosaic artist Marion Oakley.
It was a devastating time but she brought the community together. She provided a space for people to come and talk, cry, grieve and ultimately renew. She envisaged what became known as The Letterbox Project. And in time it gave the community a purpose again.
Local women and residents got together and started creating art – and hope.
In the months and years that followed, with help from local suppliers, government grants and the support of neighboring communities, The Letterbox Project put life back into the small community. People began rebuilding. Starting with a hope, a dream, a letterbox.
This is the result. Today there’s color again in the once blackened and charred landscape. Bright letterboxes lovingly and painstakingly created, with mosaics of yellow, red, white, purple, green, orange line the streets.
It’s an amazing place of hope. Today each letterbox is not just a place for letters but a memorial of the fire and, more importantly, a reminder of the resilience and strength of the people of Strathewen. A community rebuilt with love in their mailboxes.
This post is in response to Jithin’s Mundane Monday Challenge #60 – a challenge to find beauty in the ordinary things.
Wonderful mosaic art there on mail boxes!
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Absolutely!
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Beautiful photos!
As a Canadian, we can definitely sympathize for the devastation from a bushfire.
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Oh yes, absolutely, you’ve had some shocking fires there recently. I hope you weren’t personally affected Melissa.
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Fortunately, I was not affected by being in the direct area. However, as a community and a country, it affects us all in Canada. Fortunately, the disaster has brought together Canadians and shown a loving and caring side of humanity.
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As it did here too, following these harrowing bush fires. It always amazes me how adversity brings people together.
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These are absolutely breathtaking- in both their beauty and the story behind them- thank you for sharing them Miriam!
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My pleasure Lisa. Too beautiful and inspiring not to share.
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What a beautiful way to comfort and bring a community together. Thanks for sharing this inspirational story, Miriam.
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I agree, it’s an inspiring community, no doubt about it. Thanks Carol.
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Very creative. What a beautiful way to inspire a community.
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Love this story. There are amazing people out there. Very cool.
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There certainly are Wendy. Very inspiring people.
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I love Aussie mailboxes but these are extra special. Thanks for sharing the photos and the history, such a tale of resilience and hope.
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It is, isn’t it Ruth. Such a remarkable community.
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How unusual and what a wonderful way to pull a community together.
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Yes and it’s completely rebuilt now, very inspiring.
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I didn’t know about the letter box project. Thanks for sharing.
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It’s a very small close knit community. The project got some attention but wasn’t widely publicised.
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Great story about hope and community. Love the colors and fine touches on the mailbox- each a distinct piece of artwork.
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Yes they were gorgeous and there were still so many more.
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful story and the beautiful pictures. I love things like this… unexpected, out-of-the-box art with a great story.
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Yeah me too. I’d heard about it years ago and can’t believe I hadn’t checked it out sooner.
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I’m going to see if I can find anything like this in my area… shouldn’t be too difficult around here but I’m not sure what to search for… eccentric art? Hmm…
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Give it a go. You never know what you might find.
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That’s both original and inspiring! And what a lovely way to respond to a tragedy and return a community to hope. PS: Hope your daughter’s driving test goes well!
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I agree Ann, they’re a resilient and creative bunch. Thanks for your good wishes. BTW, hope your week away was great, good to have you back!
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Thank you for sharing this heart-wrenching and absolutely inspiring message of hope and beauty in the wake of tragedy. It feels as if you have sent little ripples of love across the ocean! Have a magnificent week, and best of luck to your daughter on her driver’s test!
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Thanks so much Lulu, I really appreciate your kind thoughts and good wishes. xo
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What a great story. You are doing such wonderful things with you blog lately I’m always anxiously awaiting the next post!
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Oh Diane, that’s such a nice thing to say! Thank you for brightening my morning. xo
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You’re welcome, Miri, I so enjoy reading your blog!
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The feeling is entirely mutual Diane. 🙂
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xoxo
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An inspirational story well photographed. Good luck with the driving test
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Thanks Derrick, appreciate your good wishes.
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This is such an inspiring story Miriam. Recently, in our province of Alberta, a wildfire struck a community of 80,000 people and the whole city was evacuated. So many of them have not yet returned home and many of them have no home to return to … rebuilding will take years. I’m going to share this inspiring post on my FaceBook page in hopes that it inspires those who lost so much that much can be gained when we put our hearts together! Thank you again for this wonder-filled post. Smiles, Karen
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Hi Karen, thanks so much for your kind words. I’m more than happy for you to share this on your FB page. If it can give any sort of comfort, peace or reassurance to those in Alberta who have lost so much it will be worth it. We’ve had our fair share of bushfire tragedies in Australia, this one in particular hit very close to home and impacted so many people. I feel for those who are going through this now. Warmest wishes to you. xo
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I felt so happy reading this, it takes courage to bring together all who are in grief and give them a ray of hope!
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It does indeed, thank you Alok.
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Beautiful mail boxes, very pretty, sending lots of luck for your daughter tomorrow, I’m sure she will do just fine
Brooke
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Thanks Brooke, appreciate your good wishes. xo
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Keeping your daughter in good thoughts, I know she will do fine with the test. This was a beautiful post.
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Oh, thanks Susan, I really appreciate that.
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Such an inspirational story of unity and coming together to rebuild something of such beauty. The tragic story behind it makes it even more meaningful.
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Absolutely Monica. They are an inspiring and creative group of people.
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Just love that story. We’ve never been to Strathewen it’s about time we visited.
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Let me know if you do, you can drop in for a cuppa on the way. 🙂
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Thank you, we’ll take you up on that when we do…cheers
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Excellent!
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Folk art is a snapshot from a creative mind emblazoned on an object so everyone can share the vision!
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It absolutely is, and there’s plenty to be enjoyed at Strathewen.
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Love the mailboxes Miriam! Wishing your daughter luck on her final exam!
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Thanks Nicole.
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When I first started reading this I thought you were going to say that your daughter reversed into the letter boxes or something like that! That look great and what a wonderful project to bring the community together.
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Haha No, that’s something I’d do! 🙂
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I think I remember seeing this on Better Homes and Gardens. It is indeed a wonderful way to bring the community together after such devastating losses.
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You may well have. It’s such a great story, and so inspiring.
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So colorful and full of life, Miriam 🙂
xoxo ❤
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Thanks Monica. Exams all finished?
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Not yet. This week is hard, too. But I’ll succeed 🙂 Thanks for your support, Miriam ❤
xoxo
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Keep going Monica, you’ll get there. All the best. xo 🙂
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Thank you, Miriam 😀
All the best to you, too
xoxo
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Those mailboxes look fantastic. Each one is unique and different from the other. Love the pop of colour. 🙂 Wishing your daughter luck on her driving exams. You must be a very proud mother. 🙂
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Thanks so much Cheryl. I am.
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These are beautiful, visually appealing and I love the variations. Marion Oakley is such an inspirational woman, helping the community to rebuild, bringing them together after unimaginable devastation. Thank you Miriam for sharing this with us. PS. I hope it well for your daughter!
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Thanks so much Annika and I agree, Marion Oakley is an amazing woman who gave this community back its purpose.
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This is such a beautiful message. Thank you for sharing this with us! 🙂 I will be adding to this to my Posts of Note today.
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Oh, you’re so kind Nikki, you’ve featured so many of mine, I feel honored. 🙂
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psst…it’s cause I love your blog. 😉
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Aah, thanks Nikki. Smiling here.
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What a beautiful and unexpected find!
Hope your daughter does well on her test!
Saw you featured over on A Kinder Way and thought I’d pop in and check you out!
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Beauty from ashes … Thank you for sharing this. ❤
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It’s such an inspiring story, how could I not? 🙂
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Indeed … I’d honestly not heard about this, and I found the community response moving.
Truly grateful you shared.
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First – What an amazing and inspirational story, and so much talent.
Second – As always your pictures are great.
Third – I’m obsessed with knowing what the wildlife shelter box is. I have googled a several variations to describe it and nothing. My mind is going crazy..Do you put injured animals in there and then call someone? Whats the biggest animal you can put in there? Is it safe to try and put a wild injured animal into a metal box? Please Miriam help this confused American out.
-Steve
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You made me laugh, Steve. What a picture you painted. 🙂
To be honest, I’m not 100 per cent sure but I presume it’s for the mail that comes from people with regards to the wildlife shelter. Can’t imagine trying to stick an injured wombat in there! 🙂 If I find out more I’ll let you know.
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With all the mosaic mailboxes, and my imagination I guess my brain didn’t process that as being a mailbox for an animal shelter. I think I’ll just continue to imagine Australia as this magical place that has cozy metal boxes for injured animals to comfortably wait for medical attention on every street corner. Just like here in America where we have a fast food restaurant or 7-11 on every corner. (not quite as magical)
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Kind of like a waiting room before they go into the animal hospital. LOL
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Really loved these, Miriam. I love how sharing and creating art is how everyone is brought back together. Hope your daughter’s driving test goes well!
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Thanks.
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Nice story and cool mailboxes.
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Very cool, I agree.
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Those mosaic letterboxes are lovely. The story behind them is more interesting. Very inspiring entry.
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Thanks Jithin. I agree, it’s really inspiring. Not so much my photos and not just the gorgeous mailboxes but the whole community and what they’ve rebuilt.
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Yes, I was talking about the community that stood strong and their story of coming back. 🙂
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Absolutely!
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These are really gorgeous 🙂
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They are indeed, thank you!
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I adore these mailboxes! What a great spirit these people have, and what a way to show it! 🙂
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They’re wonderful aren’t they. Thanks Ness. xo
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God Miriam, this is a beautiful post. What a creative way to illustrate the dignity of the human Spirit. Thank you. Absolutely gorgeous. Blessings ❤
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Thank you so much Debbie, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Such a remarkable place. xo
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