By CHRIS HAWKE
A father – daughter doorknock for a Neighbour Day picnic in their local park went so well that they gathered again for New Year’s Eve.
Together Jim Guckert and his daughter Linda, 14, (pictured) invited everyone in their street to picnic in their local park in Alice Springs for Neighbour Day in 2017.
Every home got their leaflet created from the website template (neigbourday.org). Together they knocked on doors and spoke with almost everyone over three weekends.
Over 40 people turned up over the morning to chat over barbie of sausages and fancy ‘sous vide’ eggs cooked at 63 degrees centigrade in water.
Many came back with their own food and drinks in the afternoon. Some of the adults even enjoyed a beer or two.
People enjoyed it so much that they did it again for New Years Eve. From 7 to 11pm many neighbours shared a plate and a yarn.
Someone brought a BBQ. One of the neighbours provided them with a power lead from their backyard.
Two Aboriginal ladies from the local nursing home came with their carers and shared stories of their life as artists.
“We’ve lived here for over 10 years and only knew our immediate neighbours. Now we know almost everyone on the street and everyone waves at us,” say Jim and Linda.
Gathering together creates a sense of community, trust and safety but the best thing is just talking with each other and realising what wonderful people live nearby’ conclude Jim & Linda.
Enjoy time with your neighbours around the last Sunday in March every year.
Details: neighbourday.org
Thursday, April 25, 2024
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide – Chicago Tribune.
The last Sunday in March is apparently ‘Neighbourhood Day’ around Australia. This morning, I was given a free cup of tea at a market stall, announcing the event.
A gent next to me said, “G’day, neighbour.”
I was momentarily affronted that he would break into my morning to tell me this after having had my home broken into during the weak.
I told him so and said that I would get over it, but it’s not the first time I’ve been robbed and I’m bruised.
The flyer that came with the free cuppa said: “The principal aim of Neighbour Day is to build better relationships with the people who live around us. Neighbours are important because good relationships with others can and do change communities, connections help prevent loneliness, isolation and depression. Reach out to families with children and teenagers in your community to help them connect and belong.”
I haven’t exactly been shy about doing this for most of my adult life, but I’m tired, burnt-out, lonely and depressed enough to be affronted by a simple act of goodwill from an anonymous man, posing as a neighbour at a market stall on Saturday morning.
Does anyone else feel like this?