Hannah Hammoud
Whittlesea council has handed out more than $10,000 in community grants as it looks ahead to celebrating this year’s annual Neighbour Day.
Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community and encourages people to connect meaningfully with those who live in their local neighbourhood.
Celebrated during the week of March 26 to April 2, this year’s theme is ‘create belonging’.
This year council provided individual grants of up to $250 to help people organise a local activity to connect and form relationships where they live, work, play or worship.
Council chair administrator Lydia Wilson said even small events could have major benefits down the track, particularly in times of crisis.
“When people connect with their communities, they have a greater sense of belonging, which leads to improved mental wellbeing and a reduction in loneliness,” Ms Wilson said.
“It also contributes to strength and resilience in the face of external pressures and emergencies.
“It makes it easier to share things, like surplus produce, borrowing a ladder or helping each other during severe weather events or in an emergency.
Council received more than 46 applications for grants and distributed over $10,250 towards a range of community-building activities.
These activities included 23 street barbecues, Nepalese community in Doreen/Mernda to host a clean-up and morning tea, several community wellness walk and alks through the municipality’s scenic landscape, street or community goods exchange, neighbourhood progressive dinner, street repair workshops and street bake-off.
