Council encourages residents to get to know their neighbours

Council is committed to ensuring sad incidents like that will never occur in our community.

Every March, residents in our region are encouraged to be “Legendary Neighbours”.

Community Services Director Janine McKay said council’s Legendary Neighbour campaign had two parts.

“We are aiming to bring regional areas together with our free Cuppa with your Neighbour events at Homebush, Finch Hatton, Shoal Point, Sarina Beach, Calen and The Leap,” Ms McKay said.

“These are really informal events where we use a local coffee vendor to provide some free cuppas in an area and invite residents to come along and meet each other and chat with a council Community Development Officer,” she said.

“The other part of the Legendary Neighbour campaign encourages residents to host their own neighbourhood gathering with one of our Legendary Neighbour Party Packs.

“Each pack includes a $100 MeatCo barbecue voucher and all the odds and ends you need to host a fun get-together with people in your street who you might not know yet.

“There are 10 packs up-for-grabs and all you need to do to apply for one is head to the council website and tell us why you want to get to know your neighbours.

“This initiative is aimed at those who may be new to a street or may have never had the opportunity to become acquainted with their neighbours.

“The whole campaign is about building a more connected community, because connected communities look out for each other and are more resilient.”

Cuppa with your neighbour events will be held on:

• Thursday, March 21, 7.30am to 9.30am - Homebush State School.
• Friday, March 22, 8am to 10am - The Gift Shed (Finch Hatton).
• Monday, March 25, 9.30am to 11.30am - Shoal Point Park, Shoal Point.
• Tuesday, March 26, 9am to 11am - Sarina Beach Foreshore (Owen Jenkins Drive).
• Wednesday, March 27, 8.30am to 10.30am - Vic Bridger Park, 3 McIntyre Street, Calen.
• Thursday, March 28, 9am to 11am - The Leap Tea Room, The Leap.

For more information or to apply for a Legendary Neighbour box, head to  mackay.qld.gov.au/legendaryneighbour

Council’s Legendary Neighbour campaign is proudly supported by MeatCo.  MeatCo voucher recipients can use their vouchers at both the Northern Beaches and Mount Pleasant shops.  For more information, head to meatco.net.au

About Neighbour Day

Neighbour Day was founded in Melbourne in March 2003 by local resident, Andrew Heslop, after the remains of an elderly woman were found inside her suburban home, more than two years after her death. Relationships Australia became the custodian of Neighbour Day in 2014 and the day has since grown into an ongoing, year-round social connection campaign that seeks to address loneliness across Australia. Neighbour Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of March annually.