A BENDIGO group is on the hunt for exemplary neighbours, as part of a push to rekindle community care.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre has launched its Good Neighbour Competition, seeking entries from throughout the city.
Acting coordinator Kerry Parry said the centre wanted to help people feel a sense of neighbourliness: that they could stop to say hello to those in their community.
Other news:
Mrs Parry said many people were struggling with the effects of COVID-19, but sometimes just having someone to talk to could help.
Entering a Good Neighbour Competition might seem intimidating, but Mrs Parry said being so could be simple.
She said the centre hoped to help people feel welcome to just stop and say hello to each other
"'Hero' conjures up a particular thing in people's minds, but it's more basic in lots of ways. It's about our whole community being neighbourly" she said.
"It's really about people caring about one and other and valuing each other.
"We want people to realise that a neighbour doesn't necessarily live next door to you. We can all be neighbours across geographical boundaries."
Mrs Parry said the centre heard great stories of neighbours reaching out to support each other during COVID-19.
It started a New Beginnings newsletter, to bring hope and comfort to people who couldn't access their community online or in person during COVID-19.
Mrs Parry said people had told her they would not have made it through the COVID-19 crisis without the newsletter.
She said centre hoped to be flooded with competition entries, so it could produce a booklet of stories.
"It's about gathering stories, telling stories, and giving people space to share what they've been through," Mrs Parry said.
People can nominate their neighbours in three categories.
The first - Good Neighbour - recognises neighbourly behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The others - Longstanding Neighbour and New Neighbour - are for people who have known their neighbours for a long time, or for less than two years.
Mrs Parry said the competition was open to anybody, anywhere.
Entries close on May 5. Winners will be announced at a morning tea on May 12, during the Australia-wide Neighbourhood House Week.
Find out more online at: lgnc.org.au/
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Find us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News