Community
28 March, 2025
Come and be a good neighbour
DOUGLAS Shire residents are being urged to get acquainted with people who live next door when the community celebrates ‘Neighbour Day’ on March 30.
Port Douglas Community Services Network (PDCSN) community recovery connect worker Tracy Gibson told the Gazette it was “our first year participating in activities for Neighbour Day and the idea was initially inspired by an email from Neighbourhood Centres Queensland”.
“We saw this as a valuable opportunity to encourage stronger connections among community members,” she said.
“In a close-knit community like the Douglas Shire, neighbours often play a crucial role in times of natural disasters.
“The 2023 floods highlighted the incredible resilience of our community and the willingness of neighbours to support one another in times of crisis.
“As the community recovery connect worker at PDSCN, I strongly believe that building relationships with neighbours before a disaster strikes is essential, especially for those without family support in the area.”
Ms Gibson said establishing good contacts were vital in emergencies.
“Establishing these connections provides peace of mind, knowing there are people nearby who can offer assistance when it’s needed most.”
National Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with their neighbours. Neighbours matter and now, more than ever, is the time to make creative connections and to stay connected.
There are no rules as to how to celebrate the day, so people are encouraged to use their imagination. The day is a reminder and an opportunity to show care and affection to those who live or work in the local community.
Activities can be simple, such as baking muffins and handing them out to neighbours as a kind gesture.
Participants are asked to send in their stories from the day of how they engaged with their neighbours and also to highlight neighbours who have gone above and beyond for them.
“We are going to have a first and second place for the best stories,” Ms Gibson said.
Neighbour Day was founded in Melbourne in March 2003 by 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.
For more information visit the centre’s Facebook page.
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