The shells have been hand-painted by sisters Rihanna and Tahlia Mercieca, reviving a local fishing tradition.
“Spring was traditionally a time of hope and prosperity for the fishing families on the Flat. It meant fish and shellfish were plentiful, bills were paid and they could look to the future with hope,” said local historian and fellow Flat’s resident Maggie Stowers.
“Some fishermen decorated their houses with scallop shells. So we came up with an idea to decorate scallop shells and offer them to the residents of the Flat to brighten their houses and bring a little bit of hope.”
Rihanna and Tahlia - St Aloysius Primary School students - collected, scrubbed and decorated the shells during the recent school holidays with some help from their parents.
“It took many hours to create the beautiful artwork on the shells, and they look stunning in the windows and on the houses. The project has brought hope and happiness to the Flat,” said Mrs Stowers.
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