With so much of our time now spent on devices,
it can be easy to form online communities and
not prioritise getting to know those around us
face to face.

Online connections don't replace real world
networking, building friendships face to face
or connecting local communities.

I recently received a copy of our suburb's local
newsletter - reminding us that "Neighbour Day" is
on Sunday 31 March and that is a great time to
connect with your neighbours and build a healthy
and vibrant community.

Getting to know those in your community can help:

People look out for each other and keep our community
safer.

They keep an eye on your home when you are away
(putting out your bins or collecting mail).

They include those who are isolated or more vulnerable
within our neighbourhood.

They create social connection resulting in better health and
increased happiness.

A connected community takes time to grow and needs
repeated interactions over time such as greeting your
neighbours and giving them a wave when you see each other
in the street.

In our street the families have grown up together and shared
birthdays, Christmas, and welcomed new additions. The
friendships built over barbeques and street parties have
been life-long.

Our community is home to a diverse community with residents
from a range of cultural groups and backgrounds. We love
being a part of these cultures and celebrating our different
customs and festivities.

Recently we honoured both the Chinese and Persian New Year
and look forward to joining in many more occasions that enrich
our diverse and vibrant culture.

One of the world's most recognisable television theme songs,
"Neighbours" reminds us that everybody needs good
neighbours.

The federal election is coming in May. It will be the party
that considers multicultural issues and has a greater
and more ethnically diverse choice of
candidate representatives that has a greater
chance of winning the election.
Party's should be able to recognise that state and
federal parliaments should reflect contemporary Australians.
As the recent win in NSW has shown.

Thank you, Foxy. That's beautiful.

I'm in a singing group and we do gigs at old people's homes. We were at the Italian Village (old people's home) last week for Harmony Day and I noticed up on their Honour Board a list of about a hundred families who have donated land. I said to my 'neighbour' "Now, THAT's a community." And mentioned that the hundred people who we were singing with, represented thousands of years of hard work building our country.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe,

Thank You!

I volunteer part-time in a nursing home (where mum used
to be). The residents there are from diverse backgrounds
(as are the staff). The sheer sharing of the residents,
staff, and families, is quite wonderful. They look out
for each other. They also
have a singing group - that manages to bring tears to my
eyes every Christmas with their songs. Mum's last days
were so happy there

Foxy/Loudmouth well done
In small towns many from both sexs have found the one, while serving in fire brigades hall committees and just about every community group
Funny some friendship came about only after the community came under threat from bush fire or floods
Been part of many groups too old now for the bushfire one still in radio based service group

Dear Belly,

Connecting with others in the same situation can
help to make things a little bit easier. I remember
Barbara - whose husband had Parkinson's. He was
in mum's nursing home. For Barbara - it was a daunting
experience facing Parkinson's on her own. She was persuaded
to join the Parkinson's Peer Support Group in
her community. She learned more about living with the
disease and the group gave her hope and support.

The group met on the first Friday of each month to
hear from guest speakers on a range of interesting
topics not always related to Parkinson's. Barbara
learned from their special program how to assist with
breathing control and speech therapy. Her son would
regularly take his dad for long walks. Community
involvement helped them a great deal.

Dear Belly,

We've got a new candidate running for office
opposite Kevin Andrews at the federal
election in May. Mr Andrews has held this
electorate for 29 years and the Liberal Party
chooses not to pre-select a younger member to
run despite so many requests from residents.
Our electorate is a safe Liberal seat.

However what's suddenly become interesting is
that we've now got a female - Stella Yee who's
chosen to run. She's a Labor candidate.
Her family has lived in the area for the
past 15 years and been part of our community.
She and her husband have raised their three children
and have run a small web-marketing business.

She was born in Malaysia and lived in several
countries before deciding to move to Australia.
She studied in the US and obtained a Bachelor's
in Social Work and a Master's in Public Policy.

Since living here she's been involved in various
community groups including volunteering with
the Vinnies Soup Van for over a decade, and through -
Co.As.It., visiting elderly Italians in their homes.
In that time she also started an innovative after-school
Mandarin program at a local primary school in the
electorate.

Hopefully her community involvement will make a
difference - come election time.