By Tania Phillips
There is nothing better than a good old-fashioned Aussie Barbecue to bring friends and neighbours together.
So when Goomburra resident Jenny Elford heard about Neighbours Day (celebrated each March) she decided a barbie was the perfect way to celebrate.
Neigbours Day (being held 26 March this year) is Australia’s annual day of celebrating community and encouraging people to connect with those who live in their street.
The theme for Neighbour Day in 2023 is “Create Belonging” – a call to action to individuals, community groups, business and governments to take everyday actions that create social connection and foster respectful relationships.
For Jenny, last year’s event, was a way to welcome new people to her community and reconnect with an old friend.
“It was through my involvement with the Goomburra Town Hall that I became aware of Neighbours Day in 2022,” Jenny explained.
“James Wong from the Southern Downs Regional Council regularly attends the Goomburra Town Hall Committee meetings and he had mentioned it at one of our meetings early last year.
“After speaking with good friend MaryLou Gittins, we decided that by becoming involved in this initiative we could host a good old-fashioned Aussie bbq which would serve to welcome several families who were new to our Goomburra community as well as making it a memorable occasion for a neighbour and good friend who had suffered a brain aneurism four years previous and was going through other setbacks with his health.
“He had a very social personality, and as he was no longer able to work, we wanted to make it an enjoyable and memorable day for him.
“After being selected as one of the recipients to host a Neighbours Day event, invitations were sent out to thirteen local families. Although only a small number of people were able to attend, those who did thoroughly enjoyed a very relaxing social get-together in beautiful Autumn weather.”
This year, Southern Downs Regional Council is again supporting the event by offering $200 gift cards to 25 neighbourhood-organised events hosted on the day.
However, Jenny said although she loved her barbecue last year she won’t be hosting this time around.
“At this stage, I won’t be participating in Neighbours Day 2023. After being the recipient of a gift card to host an event last year, I feel it only fair that others have the same opportunity that I was privileged to last year,” she said.
Southern Downs Councillor Marco Gliori said everyone needs good neighbours and he welcomed the return of the initiative in 2023.
“With Relationships Australia reporting that 28 per cent of Australians are experiencing social loneliness, it’s important that we look out for each other and check in on our neighbours to help build the community we want to live in and be proud of,” Councillor Gliori said.
“We can all work to create belonging for ourselves, our families and our neighbours. We can do this by focusing on inclusion and connection, making others welcome and by building respectful relationships with those around us.
“Neighbour Day is a reminder to reach out, over the fence or across the road, to build nurturing social connections with the people in our immediate community.
“Last year, a number of inclusive events were hosted across the region and I look forward to seeing how Southern Downs neighbours come together to celebrate Neighbour Day in 2023.”
There are many different ways to get involved with Neighbour Day, whether it’s big or small – an event, an activity or a neighbourly action – it all contributes to building respectful relationships, sustainable connections and reducing loneliness in local communities.
Everything needed to help organise your Neighbour Day event is now available on the www.neighbourday.org website.
