From coffee mugs to teapots, tea towels to posters, toothbrushes to, yes, even toilet paper - the message is unavoidable.

Keep Calm and Carry On sprung up in Britain in 1939 as a Government motivational poster in the pre-World War II days to prepare the UK population for the air raids and war days to come.

It was really telling people to be stoic, to put their chins up and to know that life will actually 'carry on' despite the awfulness and unknown before them.

Eighty-one years on from that original poster and I'm struck by how modern the message is. It is ready-made for a 21st Century global pandemic.

That said, many might argue that the 'carry on' bit is a little harder when jobs are being lost, supermarket shelves are being disgracefully stripped and social isolation is the official activity de jour.

It is why we need to ensure that we find ways to 'carry on'.

Social-isolation does not mean sit at home in front of the television all day.

And all night.

In fact, doing that would be quite contrary to a good health message about staying active and motivated.

It is more important than ever to have good health and resistance to bugs that want to do us harm.

Physical activity is key to that.

Look at all the things that are possible: create a vegetable garden, go for a bush picnic, read some books, learn how to knit, paint a picture, take photos of nature.

Teach your children and grandchildren how to cook: those five ingredient recipes have never looked so appealing.

And if you can, go for a walk or a run up Mount Buninyong, around Lake Learmonth, Vic Park or to the Black Hill Lookout.

In Ballarat, we have Lake Wendouree.

It is the soul and spirit of our town.

It is six kilometres in circumference - providing plenty of room for thousands of people to walk, talk, run, jog, amble, dawdle or ride around without having to get close to someone else.

Polite social distancing is quite the thing in that location.

It always has been.

From dawn to dark - this is the perfect place to get out of home and get active - for your health, your body, your mind and your spirit.

Take in a lung full of fresh air - and a face full of sunshine.

But therein lies a problem.

It can only safely be done in the daylight hours.

Imagine for those health workers now on our pandemic front line, what option do they have for exercise if they spend all day at work protecting and helping others?

Gyms have largely closed.

Football teams aren't playing. Netball teams aren't playing. Nor are tennis teams. Swimming pools have shut.

And just about any team, or controlled environment, has a lock on the door.

It's why the lake remains so pivotal to us right now.

And it is why we need to increase its capacity into the dark hours.

Now is the time for the much talked about lights to be installed. They will increase the potential for everyone to use it.

If Government's need projects to get people busy - or reasons to provide stimulus - or opportunities for social cohesion and happiness in what could be our darkest hours - then this is the project.

If it needs more money - if it needs more anything - now is the time for it to happen.

We have something here that so many towns don't have.It could be vital to maintaining our good mental, physical and social health.

This should be done as a matter of urgency.

We need to get on with it - and if you agree with me - I urge you to make some noise about it.We'll get through this together - but lights would help.

In the meantime, keep calm and carry on.

Samantha McIntosh is a Councillor with the City of Ballarat