Paint & Honour with Heartfelt
Last weekend, I had the honour of hosting something truly special, a Paint & Honour event at Wentworth Golf Club in Orange.
This wasn’t just another painting workshop. It was a space held with intention, with care, and with deep meaning.
In collaboration with Heartfelt Community, and alongside its incredible founder Bridget Sakr, we welcomed around 50 attendees into a room that quickly became more than just a venue, it became a place of connection, remembrance, and quiet strength. Bridget’s story is one that continues to shape the heart of everything she does. After losing her daughter in the Oatlands car crash six years ago, she has devoted her life to supporting others navigating unimaginable grief. Being able to create this event together felt deeply aligned with that purpose.
On Sunday, 15th March 2026, we gathered to honour loved ones lost, each person carrying their own story, their own memories, their own love.
I guided everyone through a painting that began as a warm, glowing sunset and slowly transitioned into a star-filled night sky. It was symbolic, that gentle movement from light into darkness, and the beauty that can still exist within it.
One of the most powerful moments of the day was when attendees were invited to write the names of their loved ones on paper hearts and pin them to a shared board. When we counted them at the end, there were 62 names.
62 lives. 62 stories. 62 people deeply loved and deeply missed. We painted 62 stars into our night skies.
Some attendees chose to make certain stars brighter, larger, or more prominent, meaningful gestures to honour those who held a particularly special place in their hearts. Watching this unfold was incredibly moving. Each canvas became a personal tribute, yet together they told a shared story.
What filled the room wasn’t just grief, it was connection. It was understanding. It was the quiet comfort of being surrounded by people who get it.
By the end of the session, the artworks reflected something beyond what we had set out to create. Yes, they were beautiful. But more than that, they carried a sense of togetherness and hope.
Hope that love doesn’t end.
Hope that memories continue to shine.
Hope that one day, somehow, we will be reunited with those we’ve lost.
I left that day feeling deeply grateful to Bridget, to Heartfelt Community, and to every single person who showed up with openness and courage.