BUSINESSES are pitching in to help Victorians cope with the stresses and strains of dealing with restrictions imposed in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While regional Victoria is feeling the benefits of restrictions being eased, the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne remain under stage four restrictions.

Charlie Ryan, of Red Hill, who started design agency Five Creative with James Baker in 2009, said they launched their V for Victoria campaign in the hope of “spreading a unifying message of love, hope and solidarity across the country”.

The stylised hand forming a peace sign has been reproduced on posters throughout Melbourne and Sydney.

Ryan says his design “up-cycles” the original V for victory sign made famous by wartime British prime minister Winston Churchill.

Money donated to the cause is “going straight back to spreading the message”.

“The graphic has been designed with the official colour of Victoria adjoining to other colours that represent all other Australian Commonwealth states and territories,” Ryan said.

“Initially developed [in August] as a direct response to the state of Victoria going into tough COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and the ongoing closures of state and territory borders, the campaign coincided with an evident rise in negative media and online coverage towards Victorians, that inflamed further fear, anger and division between states.

“Having seen our country come together over the summer bushfire crisis, and to rally for a law for equality not long before that, I don’t believe these are the words or feelings of everyday Australians. I believe that there should be more words of love, hope and solidarity between ourselves as a greater community and V for Victoria encourages that.”

Free downloads of the V for Victoria artwork, prints, face masks and apparel are available at www.vforvictoria.com.au

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 22 September 2020