Townsville City Council has been recognised as a Very Neighbourly Organisation, with the acknowledgement coming just days before Neighbour Day on 29 March.
The recognition has been awarded by Relationships Australia, which leads the national Neighbours Every Day campaign. The organisation cited the council’s ongoing efforts to encourage respectful relationships and stronger connections across the local community.
Mayor Nick Dametto said the recognition reflects years of work aimed at building a more connected city.
“Building connected neighbourhoods can be incredibly beneficial. It makes residents happier, healthier and gives a strong sense of community,” he said.
Council initiatives have included participation in the Welcoming Cities network, along with funding support for not-for-profits to host local events designed to bring residents together. The council has also promoted involvement in Neighbours Every Day, an annual campaign that encourages people to engage with those living nearby.
The push for stronger neighbourhood ties comes with a practical dimension as well. Townsville’s exposure to natural disasters has been a factor in shaping the council’s approach, with local leaders pointing to the role of community networks in improving resilience during emergencies.
Dametto said the pace of daily life can make it easy for residents to overlook simple connections close to home.
“These days it’s easy to get caught up in our daily lives and forget about the importance of getting to know your neighbour,” he said, adding that local relationships can become especially valuable during times of disruption.
To coincide with Neighbour Day this weekend, the council is rolling out a set of practical tools aimed at encouraging contact between neighbours. These include fridge magnets where residents can note down contact details and emergency numbers, along with letterbox calling cards designed to help introduce neighbours to one another.
The materials are being made available in ten languages, including Malayalam, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese, reflecting the diversity of the Townsville community.
Community organisations have long argued that simple, low-cost initiatives can help reduce social isolation and build stronger local networks. While recognition such as this highlights progress, the challenge remains in maintaining engagement beyond one-off events and ensuring that connections continue to grow over time.
For Townsville, the latest acknowledgement places a spotlight on community-building efforts that have been developing over several years, with local leaders hoping Neighbour Day provides another opportunity for residents to strengthen ties close to home.
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