By Eleanor Wilson
Neighbourhood House Week celebrations are underway across the nation, with various centres in the South East inviting locals to come together and celebrate community.
Berwick Neighbourhood Centre is opening its doors at its Timbarra centre for a morning tea, encouraging the community to have a cuppa and “see what the centres have to offer to help you come back out into the community.”
Berwick Neighbourhood Centre manager Kim Peterson said the open day will be a nice way to connect the community.
She said a number of community programs will be running at the time of the morning tea, for locals to get a taste of what it means to be part of the centre.
“The Berwick community garden group runs around that time, so it will fit in nicely for residents to engage in the workshop where we learn about doing cuttings in the gardens and that sort of thing,” she said.
“Our knitting group is also a growing program we have at the centre and the ladies make a selection of beautiful handmade items.”
Neighbourhood House Week is an annual national celebration, recognising the important contribution over 1000 neighbourhood houses make in local communities across Australia.
Running from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 May, this year’s theme is ‘building resilience by bringing people together’.
Ms Peterson acknowledged the fact it can be hard to re-immerse yourself in the community following the isolation of the Covid pandemic.
“I think because we’ve been so individually isolated it’s taken its toll on people and they’ve felt quite alone,” Ms Peterson said.
“That is where the Neighbourhood Centre comes in, because it’s not just about doing the activity, it’s about linking with other people and realising you are on the same page.”
She said she also wants locals to think of the centre as a place they can go when they need support.
“We want people to know if they aren’t having a great day, there is someone there for them and they aren’t the only ones struggling,” Ms Peterson said.
“That’s what a neighbourhood centre is, it is strength in numbers and it also shows you that you are tougher than what you think you are and you can pick yourself up.
The Berwick Neighbourhood Centre’s morning tea will run at its Timbarra house from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
