In the hopes of connecting the community, Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre has started a daily photo challenge to inspire people to get out of the house and reengage with their surroundings in a COVIDSafe manner.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Community development worker Kerry Parry said there was a new photo challenge everyday of lockdown which encouraged people to post a picture of different things they saw or have done.
READ MORE:
"The centre closed for lockdown and we thought the Facebook sharing would be a way to stay connected," Mrs Parry said.
"Last year, my daughter in Melbourne set up a Facebook group with all of our family members and we all shared photos; that's how I came up with the photo challenge idea.
"I think this Covid lockdown has knocked everyone around a bit and they've got back into themselves. But from the conversations I've had with people over the phone, they'll see the challenge posted and when they go out on their walks they take more notice.
"We'll keep doing anything we can to get people out."
The Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre has had a tumultuous 18 months through the pandemic with constant reopenings and closures.
Mrs Parry said in 2021 the centre expanded its programs to include yoga, a walking group and a variety of activities, but were forced to close as Victoria entered its fifth coronavirus lockdown.
"We were just winding up and then we had to wind down again," she said. "I think that can be disillusioning for people.
"Our core volunteer team have stuck with us throughout Covid which I'm told isn't normal because of the lack of connection.
"We also started our newsletter 'New Beginnings' in March last year right before Covid. We've kept that up with letterbox drops and an online issue. I think it's helped keep people together.
"When our second term started we introduced yoga and chair yoga and we had quite a number of people who came along who had never come to the centre before.
"In lots of different ways we've found our community has stayed connected well but there's still a lot of people staying in their homes and that will take baby steps to get them reconnected.
"Our community keeps pushing through lockdowns and if photos are a way to help do that, great."
To take part in Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre's photo challenge head to their Facebook page.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can 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
- Join us on Facebook
- If you're a subscriber, join our subscriber-only Facebook group.
- Follow us on Google News
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.