Being Neighbourly
Neighbour Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in March - the theme for Neighbour Day 2023 was 'Create Belonging’.
Relationships Australia has been leading Neighbour Day, Australia’s annual celebration of community, for over 20 years. The day encourages people to connect with those who live in their neighbourhood with the aim of fostering strong personal connections that last the whole year round.
There are many ways to participate in Neighbour Day – whether big or small! Every little gesture contributes to building respectful relationships, sustainable connections and helps reduce loneliness in our community.
Neighbour Day 2023 - Winners
Congratulations to the following winners of $200 vouchers to put towards their Neighbour Day events.
| First Name | Suburb |
|---|---|
| Harry | Aitkenvale |
| Alanna | Annandale |
| Anat | Annandale |
| Ruth | Bohle Plains |
| Nicole | Burdell |
| Tony | Bushland Beach |
| Giina | Cranbrook |
| Meibao | Cranbrook |
| Deb | Douglas |
| Robert | Heatley |
| Sebastian | Horseshoe Bay |
| Arabella | Jensen |
| Cassandra | Kelso |
| Dorelle | Kelso |
| Karen | Kirwan |
| Laura | Kirwan |
| Heather | Mount Louisa |
| Holly | Mount Low |
| Merilyn | Oak Valley |
| Leanne | Pallarenda |
| Roy | Pallarenda |
| Catherine | Townsville City |
| Lucia | West End |
| Maryanne | Wulguru |
Neighbour Day 2022 – Winners
| First Name | Suburb |
|---|---|
| Harry | Aitkenvale |
| Beth | Alice River |
| Arthur | Annandale |
| Teresa | Annandale |
| Josie | Belgian Gardens |
| Jacob | Burdell |
| Ricky | Burdell |
| Christine | Condon |
| Kerrie-Anne | Deeragun |
| Carol | Hyde Park |
| Debbie | Kelso |
| Linda | Kirwan |
| Mel | Mount Louisa |
| Chris | Mundingburra |
| Merilyn | Oak Valley |
| Michelle | Pallarenda |
| Hilary | Pimlico |
| Celeste | Thuringowa Central |
| Clair | Wulguru |
Want to check in on your neighbour and don’t know how?
Townsville City Council has created a postcard that you can fill out and place in your neighbours letterbox. You might be thinking about how you can help your immediate next door neighbour, an elderly resident that lives across the road or the single parent family that lives on the corner – this is how you can reach out.
Download your postcard FREE (click on the image below) - you could even print a few out for your workplace too.
 Pink Postcard (PDF) |  Yellow Postcard (PDF) |
You can make a positive difference in our community
- Be kind – think of others, consider your actions, show compassion
- Reach out – call your neighbours and loved ones
- Show support – especially to the elderly, vulnerable and isolated
- Share information – make sure it’s from credible sources
For more information on COVID-19 and how you can keep safe and healthy, visit the Queensland Health website.
How to be a Good Neighbour
Learn the art of building great relationships with those living near you. It only takes a few simple steps to ensure that we are considerate towards our neighbours. In turn, you may be surprised by your neighbours’ appreciation for your kindness!
A great neighbourhood is one that is caring, cohesive, safe, and welcoming. It is also where neighbours are proud of their street and take ownership of the neighbourhood they live in.
Having good neighbours can make a big difference to our lives, and goes a long way to creating a happy, healthy and peaceful environment for all. If we all play our part, we can build lasting friendships and strong communities in our neighbourhoods.
Let’s be Neighbourly Townsville, as a stronger, safer community starts in our own backyard!
Watch the Let's Be Neighbourly video
Note: Please be mindful of social distancing measures at this time.
Here are some hints on how to be a good neighbour:
Get to know your neighbours
- Introduce yourself to your neighbours
- Invite your neighbour to a barbecue or morning tea
- Make an effort to familiarise yourself with your neighbour's lifestyle, such as their hours of work or whether they are out of town a lot for work
Help your neighbours
- Try to assist your neighbour/s, especially the elderly, with anything they might struggle with, such as bringing in their bin on rubbish day, or collecting their newspaper for them
- Help your neighbours out with dog walking or collect their mail when they go away
- Keep an eye on your neighbour's property when they are out of town
Be considerate of your neighbours
- Consider your neighbours when you play loud music, operate power tools or complete renovations on your property
- Be responsible for visitors to your property
- Ensure you adhere to local noise and environmental pollution laws
Be a Responsible Pet Owner
- Consider others when leaving your pet at home for long periods of time
- Ensure your pets are securely locked in your yard when you are not at home
- Register your pets with Council
For more information visit Be a Responsible Pet Owner webpage.
Maintain your home
- Keep your garden tidy and ensure trees on the fence line are kept trimmed away from neighbouring properties
- If you have a pool, keep it clean and ensure fencing meets government guidelines
Participate in your community
- Host a Neighbours' Party in your street as a way of getting to know your neighbours. Download the Neighbours Party Kit to help you plan your event
- Get together with your neighbours and prepare your street for the disaster season
- Hold a combined garage sale to get rid of excess clutter in your street - why not sign up for the Garage Sale Trail?
Managing Neighbour Disputes
The Dispute Resolution Branch was established by the Queensland Government to
provide a free, confidential and impartial mediation service to the community.
The Dispute Resolution Centre provides an alternative way of settling disputes before they get to court. This means savings in time, legal fees and court costs, not just for the individuals involved, but for the whole community.
The Dispute Resolution Centre provides free mediation services available to everyone in the community, to assist in a range of disputes, including conflict between neighbours involving issues such as trees, noise, boundaries and children.
Contact North Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre
Ph: (07) 4417 8141
Fax: (07) 4417 8137
Regional area toll free 1800 809 605
email: drc.nq@justice.qld.gov.au
Useful links
- Read more about local laws relating to noise pollution
- Read more about Responsible Pet Ownership
