A masked Spiderman and friends bring joy to Melbourne’s locked-down suburb · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

Spiderman jogging in East St Kilda, a district of Melbourne. Photo courtesy of Asher Wolf, used with permission
With Melbourne in a winter COVID-19 lockdown for six weeks, any ray of sunshine is especially welcome. It seems that Spiderman has been bringing just that for some time during the coronavirus pandemic.
St Kilda is an iconic bayside inner suburb, usually bubbling with backpackers and other visitors from around the globe. It has played a big part in your author’s life, not the least because of its Australian Football League club that began there.
It’s an unlikely place to find our superhero as there are few very tall buildings. Perhaps that’s why Spiderman has taken to jogging. Local Jack Latimore’s son has been lucky enough to spot him more than once:
Thank you to the fella jogging St Kilda neighbourhoods in full SpiderMan suit. You have brightened my young bloke’s day beyond measure on three occasions now. My son yelled after him today: SpiderMan! Is there a problem?! #LockdownLyfe
— Jack Latimore (@LatimoreJack) August 13, 2020
Another resident, activist Asher Wolf, is well known on social media. The photo at the top of this post is from one of her tweets in June 2020. It was taken in Carlisle Street, Balaclava, which is part of East St Kilda. She replied to Jack’s tweet and also explained that another encounter was before the current 8 p.m. curfew:
For the record, I once came across St Kilda Spiderman out on the street at 2am
Me: “why?”
Him: “because ppl have to believe there’s good in the world.” https://t.co/QZXZz91jKC
— Asher Wolf (@Asher_Wolf) August 13, 2020
Spiderman was wearing a mask before they became compulsory for most outdoor activities. He couldn’t have known that jogging and cycling would be the two mask-free activities allowed during the maximum one hour’s exercise within five kilometres of your home each day.
Photographer Leigh Henningham posted this take with iconic St Kilda pier in the background a week earlier:
A well masked spider man on St Kilda Beach today. Photo by Leigh Henningham Visit https://t.co/azvE473QBb for options #melbourne #photooftheday #australia #lockdownlife #lockdown2020 #coronavirus #covidaustralia #covidmelbourne #spiderman #facemask #stkilda pic.twitter.com/XHZo64iiIr
— leigh henningham (@leighhenningham) August 6, 2020
Jack Begbie was surprised by his obvious caution:
Hold up, he's wearing two masks??
— jack begbie (@jackbegbie) August 13, 2020
Meanwhile, Museums Victoria’s Bridget Hanna shared this image of St Kilda’s much loved Luna Park:
Mask up Melbourne! #LunaPark #LunaParkMelbourne #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/hd3sq8bxny
— Bridget Hanna (@BridgeJulie) August 1, 2020
This mockup had been posted by @CapturingMelbourne a week earlier on Instagram:
Heya folks! ? Time for an appreciation post. This little mock up is dedicated to all of the healthcare workers – not only in Australia, but around the world – that are tirelessly working day and night to stop the spread. Using Melbourne’s iconic Luna Park (abiding by Melbourne’s recent mandatory mask rules ?), I thought this was a great opportunity to echo this message through our online community. During such unprecedented times, mask up, and continue to follow the rules. Do it for your community, your healthcare workers, and your fellow Australian. Spread this image far and wide! Let’s stand together against COVID-19 ????
A post shared by  Capturing Melbourne (@capturingmelbourne) on
Former City of Port Phillip councillor Serge Thomann also captured St Kilda beach and the pier at their best:
No comments needed. Life in lockdown, one hour walk a day. So great to live in a beautiful village. #stkilda #stkildabeach #sunset
A post shared by  Serge Thomann (@sergethomann) on
The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) has joined those trying to lift people's spirits:
ANNOUNCING: ‘Never alone’, by Kent Morris, a new billboard project viewable until 30 August. Read more here: https://t.co/cOgrMGA197 pic.twitter.com/b4EEDQzGUs
— ACCA (@ACCA_melbourne) August 4, 2020
According to their website:
We are honoured to present Kent Morris’ Never alone, which reflects his interest in countering the lack of Indigenous cultural representation in the built environment.”
The work’s location, on a busy St Kilda intersection, is positioned halfway between the Ngargee Tree or Corroboree Tree, near St Kilda Junction and Cleve Gardens – two significant gathering places for First Nations people.
Finally, one for the kids from Kids Fun Toys YouTube channel:
A special thank you to Friends of St Kilda (yoūruk) Facebook group for lots of ideas and images.