Noticing what needed doing
The Clark family has been proud to call Penhill home since 2007, drawn to the estate’s exceptional natural beauty, peaceful surroundings, and unique character. Over the years, driving in and out of Penhill, family conversations kept returning to the same thing: the condition of the entrance signs. Weathered and neglected, they seemed to sit waiting for the municipality to attend to them — until the obvious question came up: why wait? Perhaps there was something to be done about it directly.
Restoring the smaller signs first
With that idea, a trip to the local hardware store for paint and supplies was enough to get started. With the help of a son and Penhill’s gardener, Austin, the smaller signs around the estate were taken down and restored one by one. Seeing them go back up freshly painted was a small but genuinely rewarding moment — proof of how much difference a simple coat of paint could make, and how it could restore a real sense of pride to the entrance of the community.
Taking on the main entrance signs
That early success led to tackling Penhill’s main entrance signs. Paul Clark generously funded the paint and brushes, and several residents — including Craig and Brandon — came forward to lend a hand. Working together, the signs were restored to something the whole community could be proud of. Even several years later, they still look good — a lasting reminder of what a community can achieve when it works together.
The Penhill notice board
The next project was the Penhill notice board: another coat of paint, a bit of determination, and the addition of a new steel roof gave it a new lease on life, with the hope that it will keep serving the community for many years to come.
What it taught us
These projects may seem small, but they carry an important lesson: where there is a will, there is a way. We don’t always have to wait for someone else to make a difference — sometimes change simply begins with one person deciding to take action. With a little initiative, the support of family, and neighbours willing to get involved, small efforts can create a lasting impact.
Penhill is a beautiful place, and after nearly two decades of living here, it has become far more than just where we live — it is our community and our home. When we work together and take pride in our surroundings, we can make a real difference in the place we’re fortunate enough to call home.