It was a chance for neighbours to share a cup of tea, a barbecue or a beer as they remember why the people they share fencelines with are so important.

Whatever little things neighbours do for each other were celebrated yesterday.

Ian Watson moved to Bendigo from Canberra nine years ago and he knows his direct neighbours and most of the people in his street.

“I used to live on the north coast and growing up we would always have a barbecue with the next-door neighbours,” he said.

“It’s really handy to know your neighbours.”

With floods inflicting a great amount of damage on the Victorian community this year, Mr Watson said a lot more neighbours should be banding together.

“You see a lot of that in places like Rochester and Brisbane, they have banded together,” he said.

“When that sort of flooding happens around the area, the community spirit always shines through.”

Mr Watson said while he didn’t see a lot of his neighbours, the important thing was knowing them.

“I have been in this street for nine years and with the kids going to primary school you know a lot of people that way,” he said.

“You may not see a lot of each other, but when storms and things like that happen you keep a eye on each other’s house.”

Neighbour Day began in Melbourne in 2003 and aims to strengthen the relationships within communities.

It also hopes to create healthier and safer environments in towns and suburbs, promote tolerance and protect members of neighbourhoods such as the elderly.