What is believed to be Bendigo's last Neighbourhood Watch is closing after 30 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Members of the Maiden Gully group arrived at the difficult decision at a meeting on Tuesday night, with a lack of office bearers among the reasons it was no longer feasible to continue.
The editor of the group's monthly bulletin, John Smith, said the group had struggled to attract younger members.
Support from Victoria Police had been waning for some time, with officers less involved and less forthcoming with information about crimes in the area.
"Also, we have to remember communication has changed quite dramatically," Mr Smith said.
The monthly bulletin, which about 40 members would distribute to about 1650 homes, was one of the key ways in which the Maiden Gully Neighbourhood Watch reached its community.
The last edition comes out next month.
"Maybe Neighbourhood Watch has had its day," Mr Smith said.
He believed the Maiden Gully group was the last Neighbourhood Watch in Bendigo.
"Every other unit has closed down in the past four years," Mr Smith said.
There are still new branches emerging in metropolitan Melbourne, according to the Neighbourhood Watch 2019-20 annual report.
Crime prevention is one of the initiative's key objectives.
Neighbourhood Watch started in Victoria in the '80s.
"Let's watch out for each other" is the Neighbourhood Watch mantra.
"Originally police set it up and ran it and encouraged local residents to take an interest in their locality and take an interest in their neighbours," Mr Smith said.
He said responsibility for the groups shifted from police to residents about the early '90s, but with a dedicated officer for each group.
"Here in Maiden Gully, there was a dedicated police officer up until three years ago," Mr Smith said.
More news:
A footpath from the Maiden Gully playground to the post office is among the group's achievements, which Mr Smith attributed to about three years of advocacy from fellow member Merv Clark.
The Maiden Gully Neighbourhood Watch also raised more than $20,000 for a dedicated vehicle for family violence incident responses.
Comment is being sought from both Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Watch Victoria.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.