Elizabeth

It has been two years since I entered the hospital after an infection that resulted in encephalitis. I lost my movements and the notion of time, as I had been in an induced coma for weeks.

One would imagine that was the hardest blow I could take: being unconscious in a hospital bed for endless days. No, it wasn't, but the fact that my lovely husband wouldn't be able to visit me anymore and hold my hand while I was asleep. Cancer had suddenly taken him away from me.

I was in an isolated place, alone and with no perspective, because nothing grows when it is dark. So, after months, I finally started to see a bright side.

It is funny that I would never have imagined I would finally feel embraced and part of the community after a cup of coffee by chance at Amici House.

It was in this community hub in Brisbane that I began to experience something unique in my life through our supportive women's group called Nourishing the Soul. Socialising is still new to me. I had been in my own little world, doing my little things. Now, it's all opened up.

The sensation of having friends calling over to check on you is indescribable, as is the feeling of meeting other people and listening to their stories. I just want to go out with them and explore. I want to have lunch together at Amici House and learn how their day has been. I want to finally relish the taste of belonging and sharing.

Alison

We live on a lovely, quiet loop street that only gets local traffic. Before COVID, kids on the street used to play outside together, riding bikes, scooters, kicking a soccer ball around. But COVID came, families moved, and we lost that sense of connection.

As we all moved on from COVID, I thought it would be nice to try to reconnect with our neighbours. My daughter and I walked down our street and put a small flyer in everyone's letterbox inviting them to Christmas/end of year drinks on a shared grass area on the street - and we've now turned this into a street tradition! We recently had our third street drinks, with growing numbers of residents coming out to get to know each other or catch up - some who have come every time, and some who joined us for the first time. It was great to see the kids of all ages hanging out together, playing tips and street cricket – just like when I was a kid! – while the adults caught up with each other, welcomed newcomers to our street and even met new babies.

These regular street catch-ups recently featured as a selling point in the sales advertisement for one of the houses that was on the market, commenting on the sense of community in the neighbourhood.

For me personally, it’s been a pleasure to see the growing connection among our neighbours. Little things like stopping for a chat when we’re out in the garden or we pass on the street, a simple wave if driving past in the car, and being able to ask neighbours to put bins out, or feed our goldfish when we’re away. My hope is that these activities create a sense of belonging that is unfortunately increasingly rare nowadays in our busy lives. I hope also that this means if any of our neighbours need a bit of help or support, that they’d be willing to reach out to one another.

Nicky

Belonging to a welcoming and caring community makes a big difference in life. My family and I reside in Perth, and approximately five years ago, we moved into a new street. We were pleasantly surprised when our new neighbours came to us and introduced themselves. Over time, we have formed valuable friendships. It all started with a simple hello and a little chat, then a neighbour popped by with a magazine that she thought I might enjoy. Every day, a couple of our neighbours would gather outside from 4.30 pm onwards, walking in the street, having little catchups, giving it a real village-like atmosphere even though we are only a few kilometres away from the CBD. 

As time passed, we invited each other for a morning or afternoon tea and learned that some of the neighbours have been friends for over a decade or more.

When Covid hit, we all came together on our driveways for the Anzac Day celebration, and we still do so even now. We keep in regular contact, got to know each other's families, lend a helping hand, pet-sit and water gardens when needed, help with minor repair jobs, prepare meals and care when someone is ill, and regular coffee mornings, afternoon tea, wine club, cocktail nights and celebrations together. We swap magazines, share garden produce, recipes and books, and bring each other cakes or food.

During Christmas we give each other homemade treats or gifts. Although all of our neighbours are young of heart and mind, some are getting on in age, which provides our teenage children the opportunity to do jobs for them, some paid and some unpaid. We want our children to understand the importance of looking out for one another and lending a helping hand. Most of our neighbours are from regional or country areas, some ex-farmers, and from diverse backgrounds. They have all experienced their heartaches and difficulties, which has instilled a great work ethic, can-do attitude, resilience, compassion, a drive for success, and have the understanding of the importance of community.  Having and being a great neighbour builds a beautiful and strong community.

Hatty

14/10/23  … Just got home from the free Paul Kelly concert at Anzac Oval. Today was the Referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and the ‘No’ result came in really quickly. The mood in town is dark and quiet, but lots of people still rocked up for Paul. The crowd was in different states of disbelief. Disbelief that this happened, that we allowed this to happen, and that we all chose to come to a concert tonight. We felt for Paul, trying to deliver his concert to an oval of sad, frightened possums.

He did well. He addressed it, but he didn't go over the details. He knew lots of people here have been living the details and will continue to.

I walked home with a whole crowd. There had been lots of crying and hugging, and I had never felt so grateful for this overwhelming sense of community. It reminded me of a bush funeral. We were all sad, but there was strength in us because we were feeling it together.

Char

We moved in 11 years ago. We knew no one in the street. Neighbours all waved. Our first Xmas I decided to do a letter drop to our hood to have street Xmas party and bring a plate to share. Everyone came. Kids became friends.

We always have street drink drinks at least weekly. Kids play and ride in the street. You know where they are as bikes in front yards of neighbourhood.

It’s a lot like my childhood but better.

Neighbours have moved and we gained new ones that we have welcomed, and our neighbourhood evolved. It’s lovely to be able to chat and support each other through our lives. I’d be lost if I moved.

John

I remember my family telling me that every person in the street is each other’s responsibility and every child is the responsibility of the nearest adult, so I decided to make positive changes and started a community garden in order to centre the community by growing our own food and flowers and making art together. Over the last ten years it has been transformational how the community has come together. The kids eat the food when they grow it themselves, everyone in the street picks my flowers, and there is a homeless person who often sleeps in my front garden, because she says she feels safe there.

As an older man I consider it my primary responsibility to be a role model to young men. I am sure we can do this through connecting interests. For many years I worked as a blacksmith, and I realised that this work could satisfy a primal desire in a most basic way of making things and could be a way to connect men across generations. We started by making throwing axes and I couldn’t believe the change in two young men, from being directionless and then so proud of the work they had done. I have no doubt this builds confidence in being able to have a better life going forward.

The ladies in the street come to pick lemons from my lemon tree, making lemon pies, the kids make lemonade and once a week a little community bus drives past so that the small group can see the art and beauty in the garden. This proves the good that can happen when we come together and be creative and share our lives with one another.

None of us know what the future holds but we can be sure if we pull together and be there for each other things will be ok.

Elizabeth

It has been two years since I entered the hospital after an infection that resulted in encephalitis. I lost my movements and the notion of time, as I had been in an induced coma for weeks.

One would imagine that was the hardest blow I could take: being unconscious in a hospital bed for endless days. No, it wasn't, but the fact that my lovely husband wouldn't be able to visit me anymore and hold my hand while I was asleep. Cancer had suddenly taken him away from me.

I was in an isolated place, alone and with no perspective, because nothing grows when it is dark. So, after months, I finally started to see a bright side.

It is funny that I would never have imagined I would finally feel embraced and part of the community after a cup of coffee by chance at Amici House.

It was in this community hub in Brisbane that I began to experience something unique in my life through our supportive women's group called Nourishing the Soul. Socialising is still new to me. I had been in my own little world, doing my little things. Now, it's all opened up.

The sensation of having friends calling over to check on you is indescribable, as is the feeling of meeting other people and listening to their stories. I just want to go out with them and explore. I want to have lunch together at Amici House and learn how their day has been. I want to finally relish the taste of belonging and sharing.

Bill

I had a tip top night one Tuesday in late January 2024 in suburban Adelaide.

An 18 minute walk from my front door, a stone's throw from a road I've walked up and down more times than I've had hot brunches, but it took six months of living here, and a toss of a coin decision to walk down that road to find the Hawthorn Bowling Club.

I joined on the spot. Signed up for Saturday summer and Tuesday Night Hawks socials.

I've been speaking a lot lately with others about finding your happiness, finding friends/companions, and making connexions in new places.

And how when you're feeling a bit out of sorts, it may help to think of what makes you happy and what's worked in the past.

It comes with the territory - no pun intended - of leaving my home town 11 years ago, living in scores of communities since, never staying in one city or town for more than a year or two.

We were talking about happiness.

One of the happiest times of my recent years for fun, fitness, friends, socialising, community, and connexion is my time at Darwin Bowls and Social Club. I was only 18months; blink and you'd miss me.

But it became a big part of my life and my time in Darwin. More on that elsewhere.

Back to Hawthorn, SA. I'm not even going to try to describe that night or the mild, constant frisson of contentment and joy I felt.

Just check out the photos on the Hawthorn Bowling Club Facebook site, and see the genuine pleasure and fun radiating from those pages.

I fully believe that music and laughter are two of the strongest healing medicines.

But sport is right up there in good company, and you can definitely add social bowling to your first aid kit.

And please, if you go to another good bowling club in the area, please do share with others. Because sharing and associating is such an essential part of clubs. If you're on a good thing, stick to it. But also invite others in and go visit outside your own community.

Serving suggestion only. Feel free to add or subtract ingredients!

Josh

My sense of belonging has been helped greatly by finding 'my people'. Those that will cheer for your successes, pick you up when you're down and add to your overall happiness.

But most importantly are wanting you to be a better version of yourself each and every day.

Two particular friends that I have do this constantly. They're both people that I can reach out to if I'm having a down day and who will give me sound advice. They're also people that are likeminded in their pursuits with mine.

For example, I’ve spent 3 short trips away with both of them in the last year where we've had 'no technology' - put simply we've left our phones in the car for the entirety of the trip and focused on how the human connection empowers us rather than the virtual connection our phones enable. This allows all of us to unwind while bonding further, amplifying the feeling of belonging.