Celebrate your neighbours this Neighbour Day

Published on 26 March 2021

Celebrate your neighbours, connect with new ones, or nominate one that has gone above and beyond for recognition in Council’s Neighbour Day competition this Neighbour Day on Sunday 28 March.  

Neighbour Day recognises the importance of neighbours in building meaningful and sustainable social connections. An initiative of Relationships Australia, Neighbour Day encourages Australians to know their neighbours and broader community – whether they are next door, down the street, in the workplace or online.

Baw Baw Shire Council is celebrating these connections with a Neighbour Day prize pack – nominate your neighbours here as a special way to thank them for being neighbourly.

One local couple who are well versed on the importance of neighbours is Linda and Gus McDonald, who moved to Drouin four years ago and quickly came to love being part of a caring community.

Not long after moving in, Linda and Gus met their first neighbours. Starting with a wave from the kitchen window, followed by a knock on the front door, the neighbours quickly developed a relationship that sees them offering each other a hand in the yard or with the shopping and even saw them brightening each other’s days with light-hearted window signs in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not to be outdone, the McDonald’s other neighbours have also made them feel right at home. One day, after noticing an ambulance parked in the McDonald's driveway, neighbour Lyn came over to check on everyone and brought with her a home-made pavlova. This act of kindness and friendship reiterated to Linda and Gus that they had made the right choice in moving to Drouin.

Having great relationships with their neighbours allows Linda and Gus to feel safe and comfortable in their home, knowing that if they ever need a hand with anything at all there'll be plenty offering to help.

Research shows that communities where people know each other are reported to have better mental health, are safer for children, and are more resilient when disasters strike.

Neighbours can help and support each other in times of need, as we have seen during the numerous challenging times over the past year. A neighbour is also not necessarily defined by location alone and can be someone in your street, the wider community, your workplace, or online.

Resources are available on the Neighbour Day website, including neighbour connection cards, conversation tips, and creative ideas to connect. Some ideas include:

Linda said the simplest thing to do was to wave and say hello.

“You never know what impact those small gestures can have,” she said.

Fore more tips and ideas, head to www.neighbourday.org.au

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss:

"Baw Baw is home to connected communities with proud histories that are also growing and welcoming new residents. I encourage everyone to take the time to celebrate our community connections this Neighbourhood Day – whether by thanking long-held neighbours or welcoming new ones.” 

Linda and Gus McDonald have established strong connections with their neighbours since moving to Drouin four years ago.