23 February 2024
Southern Downs Regional Council invites the community to celebrate the spirit of social connection and extend the hand of friendship by hosting a local neighbourhood event this Neighbour Day.
Having connected communities for more than 20 years, Neighbour Day is a national initiative launched by Relationships Australia to reduce loneliness by building respectful and sustainable connections, and the theme for 2024 is Create Belonging | Share Belonging.
This year, Council is proud to again support the program by offering $200 gift cards for up to 25 neighbourhood-organised events hosted on Sunday 31 March 2024.
Chief Executive Officer Dave Burges said the essence of Neighbour Day lies in creating connections, promoting kindness and reducing loneliness.
“Neighbour Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the spirit of community and encourages us to extend the hand of friendship over fences and across roads to bridge the gaps that sometimes separate us,” Mr Burges said.
“While you don’t need Neighbour Day to be a good neighbour, hosting a local event reminds us that our immediate community is more than just a collection of houses; it’s a network of hearts, stories and collective experiences.
“Whether it’s a shared meal, a laughter-filled gathering or a game of cricket, every act of reaching out contributes to the vibrant tapestry of our community.
“Last year, a number of inclusive events were hosted across the region and I look forward to seeing how Southern Downs neighbours come together to celebrate Neighbour Day in 2024.”
There are many different ways to get involved with Neighbour Day, whether it’s big or small - an event, an activity or a neighbourly action - it all contributes to building respectful relationships, sustainable connections and reducing loneliness in our communities. Everything you need to help organise your Neighbour Day event is now available at www.neighbourday.org.
Want to host an event for your neighbourhood? To win a $200 voucher, go to
Neighbour Day 2024 - Southern Downs Regional Council (sdrc.qld.gov.au) and tell us about your proposed Neighbour Day celebration and how it will encourage people to connect with those who live in your neighbourhood (200 words or less). Applications will be assessed on how they meet the theme and principles of Neighbour Day 2024.
Entries are now open and close at 9am Friday 15 March 2024. Winners will be notified by email by Friday 22 March 2024. Terms and conditions apply.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Last edited date 18 Mar 2024