Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Monday, 29 February, 2016. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

#NeighbourDay is Virtually Alive across Greater Shepparton

As part of the launch Greater Shepparton City Council officers added their own photo with the same Neighbour Day signage to show Council's support for the campaign and to promote every day as Neighbour Day.

Greater Shepparton locals will have the chance to win $100 Barbecue packs in the lead-up to this years Neighbour Day, which will run locally across the weekend of March 18-20 (more details on this to follow).

“This year the Neighbour Day launch is accessible to everyone with a social media campaign that includes photographs from people from all walks of life supporting the theme - The community you want starts at your front door™,” according to Alison Brook, National Executive Officer for Relationships Australia. Relationships Australia is the home of Neighbour Day.

To be part of the virtual launch people can access the Neighbour Day signage here, take a photo of themselves, or ask a mate to take a snap and send it to Twitter: @NeighbourDay, Facebook: facebook.com/neighbourday or Instagram: @NeighbourDay. Remember to tag Neighbour Day when you post your picture. Neighbour Day has a broad social media and community presence and the virtual launch is expected to extend the reach even further.

“Our plan is to flood the internet with messages of support for neighbourliness and connected communities,” Ms Brook said.

The principal aim of Neighbour Day is to build better relationships with the people who live around us, especially the elderly and vulnerable. It’s well known that connected communities where people know each other are often safer, healthier and more resilient.

Neighbour Day Ambassadors who are supporting the launch include:

Natalie Ahmat, journalist and presenter of NITV News
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
Andrew Heslop, the founder of Neighbour Day
Hugh Mackay, social researcher and author of ‘The Art of Belonging’.

Now in its 13^th year, this year’s Neighbour Day on Sunday 27 March is shaping up to be another big celebration of community. All over Australia neighbours, local councils, businesses, and community groups are organising barbeques, street parties, morning teas and community gatherings in an effort to get to know the people around them.

As 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.

Neighbour Day was founded in Melbourne in March 2003 by Andrew Heslop after the remains of an elderly woman, Elsie Brown were found inside her suburban home. Andrew Heslop is a community activist, social commentator and well known Australian. Andrew suggested a ‘National Check on Your Neighbour Day’ in a Letter to the Editor of The Melbourne Age in 2003.

In January 2014 Andrew handed responsibility for Neighbour Day to Relationships Australia to build and grow.

The Neighbour Day website (neighbourday.org) includes all the information needed to get involved in the Day and to register an event. The Tell Us Your Story competition encourages people to submit a 500 word story about a great neighbour or an extraordinary neighbourly act. To enter go to neighbourday.org and be in the running to win cash prizes.

“The community you want starts at your front door.”™