Ms Wong is inviting everyone to walk with her and celebrate what she feels Ballarat does so well. Compassion Walk will link together community groups and highlight the work of Compassion Ballarat, which is encouraging residents to see the value of caring for others in your neighbourhood.

Plans are underway to dot the six-kilometre track around Lake Wendouree with spots of kindness. Ballarat Society of Artists will help people to paint. Wander a little further around and you might find Ballarat East Community Men’s Shed showcasing woodwork.

Ms Wong, who is also a hospital spiritual carer, said such groups were great at encouraging participation in society but also showed a lot of compassion and inclusion in their work and in the community.

“There are ripple effects of actions, even the families of hospital workers feel that,” Ms Wong said. “I’ve felt really moved and inspired by my patients to do something like this and bring attention to what’s important in life.”

The idea started for Ms Wong in a leadership forum she undertook in Melbourne last year. The program required participants work on a project to show leadership.

While Ms Wong knew she wanted to focus on self-development and well-being, it was the work of Federation University’s Lynne Reeder on Compassionate Cities that set Ms Wong on this path.

“This is really about the little things and thinking about the little actions that could possible make a big difference in someone else’s life,” Ms Wong said. “It could be helping someone with their shopping bag or being a little nicer to you kids...We want to bring that to the fore.”

The walk will start and finish near the rotunda near Pipers By the Lake with food trucks and live music. Participants can try some laughing yoga, hear compassionate advice talk and listen to African dumming.

Ms Wong said what started as a project has taken her on an incredible journey in meeting amazing people who have shown her lots of compassion along the way. 

For more details or to get involved in the September 16 event, visit Compassion Ballarat on Facebook.

Or register here.