Hume City Council is celebrating the benefits of connecting with your neighbours by asking locals to show us their community spirit for Neighbour Day 2025.
Neighbour Day is a celebration held annually on the last Sunday in March to increase social connection and combat loneliness by encouraging people to get to know those around them.
To grow lasting connections in Hume, Hume City Council is giving residents the chance to win a gift voucher by showing us their relationships with their neighbours.
The competition comes as a way to support our community to practice empathy, embrace diversity, and engage in inclusive spaces so we can build lasting, respectful relationships that enrich all our lives.
Ahead of this year's Neighbour Day on Sunday 30 March, Hume City Mayor Cr. Jarrod Bell got in the community spirit by dropping in for a snack and a chat at the Teddy Bear Picnic.
The day of activities for Hume's kids and their fluffy friends was a perfect opportunity for all to meet new friends while getting to know their neighbours within the community, which Cr. Bell says has been the driving force for Council.
"At a Council Meeting in 2024, our Councillor group endorsed the decision to use Neighbour Day to encourage social connection, and it's been great to see so many get on board this year."
"Research shows that those who have strong relationships with their communities and neighbours are more likely to help one another and have better outcomes when faced with emergencies. When we get to know our neighbours, we feel safer, more supported, and less isolated."
While Neighbour Day took place on 30 March, Cr. Bell encourages locals to embrace the values of the occasion every day. "There are plenty of ways to connect with our neighbours, so whether you're holding a BBQ or even helping out in someone's garden, we want to know how you're keeping Hume connected."
To be in the running for one of 20 $100 gift vouchers, you must:
take a photo showing your community spirit
upload your photo
tell us in 25 words or less how you have connected with your neighbour
Details on how to enter the Neighbour Day competition can be found at our website.
Neighbour Day aligns with Hume's Health and Wellbeing Plan, which outlines the importance of community connection to reduce loneliness and increase community resilience.
