Local mum Alicia Kimberley on a mission to educate Geraldton on the link between sunflowers and disability

A local mum is on a mission to raise community awareness of the unlikely importance of sunflowers, and their representation of something much bigger. Alicia Kimberley found out about the Sunflower Program on a trip to Perth with her nine-year-old son, discovering the flower represented hidden disabilities such as neurological disorders and chronic illnesses. Her son, who lives with a hidden disability himself, has since used a lanyard or bracelet printed with sunflowers to indicate this to people. The movement started in the UK in 2016, before travelling to the US, now reaching Australian shores. Ms Kimberley, a hairdresser, said the movement was essential in creating more understanding of non-visible disabilities, and wearing a lanyard in public had allowed herself and her son to see remarkable changes. “We went to Karrinyup Shopping Centre for a school holiday launch, and he wanted to hug Bugs Bunny. Usually he’d run away, but he went up and hugged him and wanted to hold on, so I apologised to the staff,” she said. “The staff said ‘oh that’s OK, we’re all trained for this’ and I just burst into tears. For me taking those extra few moments and having that understanding, not taking any judgment, it was so beautiful.” Ms Kimberley has been in touch with the City of Greater Geraldton to help raise awareness of the Sunflower Project and support to gradually introduce the sunflower symbol into the community. Cr Jenna Denton immediately knew this was something the city would support. Cr Denton has a background in working with disability and children, and knew the conversation about inclusion opportunities for neurodiverse people was one that needed to be had. “I think there is two parts to it,” she said. “It’s about community, so letting people understand the sunflower and what it represents, and secondly letting people who are neurodiverse know they aren’t alone.” Cr Denton said the first step was starting the conversation. “I made a post on Facebook . . . and the support on that is the confirmation we needed that this is a step in the right direction,” she said. The city will support community members through education courses. “So when people see someone with a sunflower they know how to interact with them. It’ll be a gradual rollout but the community is naturally supportive of this,” Cr Denton said.