If you need an excuse to say hello to your neighbours, then that excuse is coming right up. Sunday 27 March (Easter Sunday) is Neighbour Day – a day when we are all reminded and encouraged to ‘reach out’ and build better relationships with the people who live around us.
If you’re new to Neighbour Day, the idea is that we use the excuse of a national ‘day’ to do some of those things we know are part of being a ‘good neighbour’ but that we may not get around to very often – the things that we know can transform our home, street, suburb or town from a mere location to a strong, supportive, thriving community.
If you think you’re not much of a neighbourly type, consider for a moment the message from one of this year’s Neighbour Day ambassadors, the social researcher and prolific author, Hugh Mackay. He describes a ‘good life’ as one “not lived in isolation or in the pursuit of independent goals…”; Rather, he says “a good life is lived at the heart of a thriving community, among people we trust, and within an environment of mutual respect”. In his most recent book, ‘The Art of Belonging’, he warns, not only do “we need communities, but communities also need us”.
“Neighbours don’t have to be best friends,” he says, “but the role of neighbour is a distinct and precious one. Knowing the people around us increases our sense of emotional security and physical safety, and our local neighbourhood networks help to define and sustain us – in both the good times and the more challenging moments of our lives.”
For those who want to get right into the swing, there are posters, flyers, invitations, calling cards, e-cards, name badges, email templates and ‘how to’ guides; even recipes to try out.
Make a plan, any plan
Whether you’re thinking about having a barbeque, a street party, a morning tea, beers on the nature strip, a walk in the park or just planning to meet some neighbours at a pub or café, Neighbour Day can be as organised or as casual as you like.
For those who want to get right into the swing, there are posters, flyers, invitations, calling cards, e-cards, name badges, email templates and ‘how to’ guides; even recipes to try out.
Relationships Australia, which is the home of Neighbour Day, has a big array of resources to make it all as easy as possible, especially if you don’t already have the close relationships with your neighbours.
But whether or not you make it official, we can all grasp the idea of Neighbour Day and make it a day of action. Lean over the fence, knock on the door, approach your neighbour in the street and make the connection.
Why we need Neighbour day
The concept of Neighbour Day began in 2003, initiated by Australia Day ambassador and community activist, Andrew Heslop, following the discovery of the body of Elsie Brown in Melbourne, almost two years after her death.
Heslop wrote a letter to the editor of The Age – the newspaper where he had read the story – describing the circumstances around Elsie Brown’s death as “an appalling indictment on a supposedly civilised society in one of the world’s most affluent countries.”
“That Elsie Brown’s whereabouts had gone without proper investigation by relatives, friends and neighbours – let alone by utilities companies, government agencies or service providers – for so long reflects poorly on our sense of community and concern for others. Yet it is sadly indicative of the isolation many women and men face each day.
”With increasing numbers of people of all ages choosing to live alone, for whatever reason, I believe we simply cannot continue to ignore those within our suburbs and towns who are isolated, lonely or at risk – and, as in this instance, especially senior citizens.”
So the principal aim of Neighbour Day is to build better relationships with the people who live around us, especially the elderly and vulnerable.
Now in its 13th year, the annual event is gaining increasing momentum with this year’s Neighbour Day Ambassadors including:
- Hon. Fred Chaney AO, 2014 Senior Australian of the Year
- Nick Duigan, co-host of Hook, Line and Sinker on the Seven Network and Fox Sports
- Costa Georgiadis, host of the ABC Gardening Australia program
- Julie Goodwin, Australian cook, winner of the inaugural season of MasterChef
- Hugh Mackay, social researcher and author of ‘The Art of Belonging’.
- Natalie Ahmat, journalist and presenter of NITV News
- Andrew Heslop, the founder of Neighbour Day.
Want to choose a different day?
Organisers say that, because this year’s Neighbour Day falls on Easter Sunday, many people are choosing to celebrate on another weekday or weekend that may suit better. The supporting theme is – Every day is Neighbour Day, so people can choose to connect with their community in whatever way and at whatever time suits best.
This is a topic close to our heart at Frank and Earnest. This year we have written about two deaths that occurred in retirement villages, where the deaths went undiscovered for a few days or weeks (see links below). We’re right behind any efforts anyone wants to make to encourage neighbours to interact and work together for the good of local communities and better lives for all. And we would love to hear about your experiences of Neighbour Day this year.
Click on the links below if you would like to read these two recent articles:
A death in the village – 29 January 2016
Important ethical questions for all of us – 19 February 2016
