There are literally tens of thousands of Australians living in residential care facilities, retirement villages or nursing homes who may well be missing out on seeing a loved one, or loved ones, this Easter.

These people are among our most vulnerable when it comes to COVID-19, and remaining in isolation, with a regime of strict protocols around them, is for their benefit, their fellow residents' benefit, and equally for the people they love.

But the thought of any of us being alone, or missing out this Easter, is not one any of us should just simply accept.

And sometimes, it's only when you miss someone that you realise how much you really care.

So the idea of inviting readers to colour in an Easter decoration and send it to one of these facilities, is one we thought well worth supporting.

We encourage readers to take up their pencils, to photocopy the artwork provided on page nine of today's Bendigo Advertiser, and to decorate the page to show they are thinking of someone else, someone who they perhaps cannot spend time with this Easter.

We invite you to personalise your Easter artwork to the extent you feel comfortable, as a way of demonstrating our support and appreciation for the residents, and staff, of the organisations whose details are included alongside today's article.

The artwork will be available to download from our website later today.

Alternatively, you may wish to send your completed colourful masterpiece to your own relative or friend whose company you cannot enjoy in the midst of the pandemic.

But hurry, Easter is fast approaching.

We hope these simple, but heartfelt gestures can help bring some further Easter joy, not just to those who receive them, but to the budding artists who can feel satisfied that they have done something good to help others in a time of need.