By Roselyn Fauth
8 Years ago, we held a quiet little rock painting picnic in the garden of the Aigantighe Art Gallery. Just seven people turned up, Shirley Ashton and Pauline Petie were there and I was stoked. It meant I wasn’t alone in thinking that painting and hiding rocks for others to randomly discover might actually be a fun idea. That small turnout felt like the perfect start... just enough to feel like something could grow from it. My very first batch of rocks featured ten tiny mushroom gnome house designs. I still remember the excitement of painting them, the glossy varnish, and the hope that someone, somewhere, would stumble across one and smile. And that’s exactly what happened.
As you'll see in this news story, the rocks became more meaningful form of expression, story telling and information sharing... And that’s where Kate Dewes comes in.
And that’s where Kate Dewes comes in.
Kate had always been part of my world. She’s my best friend’s mum, and I often stayed at her house gorwing up as a teen. I remember hearing snippets of what she was working on... international peace talks, nuclear disarmament campaigns, calls to the UN... but I didn’t fully grasp just how monumental her work was until I was older and I read A Thorn in My Side. It opened my eyes to the scale of Kate’s dedication and her husband Rob Dewes. She wasn’t just involved, she was a leader. She helped steer New Zealand toward becoming nuclear free. She carried our country’s voice to the world stage. Her grace, grit, and persistence had an enormous impact here and around the globe, ultimately for world peace.
And I wanted to honour that. That’s when the peace rocks idea was sparked, as a joyful way to reflect on the anniversary of nuclear free NZ and her. To say thank you. To help others remember what had been achieved. We invited people to paint rocks with peace symbols and messages of hope, and then arrange them at Caroline Bay into a giant peace sign. It was simple. It was beautiful. It was a way for people, young and old, to engage with the idea of peace in a playful, accessible way. We had wonderful coverage from local media and many people walking past would rearrange the stones into new shapes, take a rock to keep or rehide.
Even though the council mowers weren’t the biggest fans of the rocks lurking in the long grass, the community loved them. And that love kept the momentum going. It was in full swing until Covid hit, in the early days of the lock downs we didn't really know how to best protect ourselves, and the idea of touching something that could have the virus stopped us all in our tracks, and if I am totally honest, I didn't want to be seen as someone who encouraged people to do something that might cause a whole heap of social media debate. I had enough stress at home pivoting to the lock-down rules too. The as rock hunting stopped, that is when I started wandering around the cemetery and taking an interest in the people who rested there. It was the closing of a huge chapter in our family and the start of a new one.
Looking back now, I never imagined that a few painted gnome houses would lead to something so rich and rewarding. I am proud that our community created space for connection, creativity, and quiet gratitude, especially for those like Kate, who gave so much to make our world safer.
Because sometimes, all it takes is a picnic.
And a paintbrush.
And someone who showed us how peace is made, one action at a time.
Chris and I met so many wonderful people in our community through painting rocks. What we discovered was that many others were also looking for free, fun activities. The conversations we had while creating little treasures to hide for others were truly enlightening. I learned so much more about who lives in Timaru, and why this town is so special.
Painting rocks created opportunities for everyone, especially for female entrepreneurs and artists. These were free and inclusive events that we intentionally designed to support caregivers and families. While Chris and I took the lead on the project, we were supported by many fantastic administrators who helped run the Facebook group and assisted with events.
We were especially fortunate to have the support of amazing women like Pauline Petie, Shirley Askin, Bec Bisman, Jasmine, Kristin Holloway, and some of our top “rockers” like Joy Dillion, who must have painted hundreds of rocks.
I met Cara at a New Year’s party through my husband Chris, who had gone to university with her and her husband Brian. From the start, it felt like we had been friends for years. Something just clicked. When they came to Timaru on a scout trip, Chris and I showed them around and shared what we loved about the place. Not long after, Cara was offered a role at the Aigantighe Art Gallery, which later grew into her becoming the Gallery Manager. She brought fresh energy, raised the standard, and created exciting new opportunities. I really admire her. We have been a great team, often brainstorming ways to inspire a love of art in our community. The Aigantighe has always felt like home to me, a place to connect with friends and experience art together. Cara’s leadership has deepened that feeling. she has shown me the importance of lifting others as you rise — something I admire greatly and carry with me in my own work.
What I learned from this experience was that there were so many people in our community, just like us, who were looking for free things to do, and who wanted to make those experiences meaningful.
Then COVID hit. It had a significant impact and the momentum of the rock craze fizzled. I realised I needed to find something new, something that could work in that climate and help people transition into the next thing.
So Chris and I began writing some blogs about local histor, popping them on WuHoo Timaru's website, and invited experts to share their stories about properties in Timaru. They taught me how to research online when we couldn't leave our homes. We also created some colouring-in and activity sheets, and inspiration for free fun for the newspaper and Venture Timaru.
Gifting a rock painted by Bed Bisman to the Timaru District Council in 2017, with Mayor Damon Odey, Medinella Fauth, Roselyn Fauth. Bec was shy so asked me to present it on her behalf.