A SYMBOL of hope and unity continues to bring a smile to the community across the Hastings with the latest stamp of thanks by a mystery artist appearing on the wall of a Port Macquarie business this week.
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The image of a frontline worker with one message - thank you - has appeared on the wall of the Blue Water Bar & Restaurant.
Blue Water Bar & Restaurant owner Cheryl Pavey said it was sprayed onto the building after staff had left for the night on Sunday, August 2.
"I got a call on Monday morning saying that someone had spray painted the front of the building. Getting the call was kind of horrible on my day off, but when I saw it I instantly thought it's kind of amazing," Ms Pavey.
"It's really quite nice and someone has put a lot of thought into it. We're not sure why it's there but we've decided to keep it."
Ms Pavey said customers have embraced the artwork and the restaurant is considering putting up lighting to illuminate the painting.
"The public reaction has actually been pretty positive. We've put requests out to find out if someone will come forward to claim it," she said.
"We have a lot of artwork inside and we could definitely show their stuff if they were interested."
A similar artwork was added to the Wrights Road roundabout, near the entrance to Port Macquarie Base Hospital in May this year.
Both stencil-style pieces are unauthored and bear the same message.
"People have asked why I'm not more upset that this was done without our permission. But really the last few months with COVID have been so brutal for small hospitality businesses," Ms Pavey said.
"This just isn't something that even ranks on the list of things to be concerned about. To be honest, it actually makes me smile.
"I think it's okay as long as it doesn't become a menace or pest to anyone."
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