From paper to purpose: Residents transform their cafe through art

 

There’s something special that happens when people come together to create. Whether it’s sharing stories over a craft table or working side by side on a project, these moments build community, spark joy, and bring a real sense of purpose.

That’s exactly what happened recently at McLean Care’s Mackellar Apex Road in Gunnedah, where residents and team members joined forces on a creative project with lasting impact: designing and making colourful paper mosaic tabletops for their café.

Leisure and Lifestyle Lead Tracy Dwyer, who is also a mosaic artist, guided the group through the process. “We were trying ideas to give the café a facelift and we wanted to get the residents involved to add a personal touch," she said. "I decided on using coloured paper instead of tiles as it was safer - and it was an experiment to see if it would hold up when I poured the epoxy resin over the top. It all came out amazing!”

Residents carefully cut and glued the coloured paper into intricate mandala and floral designs, proudly signing their finished tables.

“When you give the residents a project to do that has meaning, it gives them purpose,” Tracy explained. They couldn’t wait to see the end result, and they’re so proud of what they achieved.”

The café makeover, led by Hospitality Lead Kerri, will soon become a welcoming meeting place for residents, families, and visitors - complete with shelves to display residents’ artwork.

Would you like to explore a hobby or creative activity of your own? Talk to the McLean Care team about how we can help you discover something that sparks your interest.