Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Sense Of Community




A few months back when flicking through television channels, Paul and I found ourselves watching a documentary one night called ‘Obsessive Compulsive Hoarder’.  It was fascinating to watch, although sad at the same time, giving an insight into the world of a poor chap named Richard Wallace, a hoarder who had literally become almost buried by the clutter and ‘junk’ he had accumulated over the years.  His house had become uninhabitable, the only access between rooms being tiny gaps left at the top of doorways among endless piles floor to ceiling high of newspapers and other household items.    

What I liked most about this tale though was watching the changing attitudes of the local community towards their fellow neighbour.  Residents in the village of Westcott, (who placed a great emphasis on presenting their homes and gardens to impeccable standards) had been battling the local council for years over Richard Wallace and his eyesore.  What I found heart warming was the way that a local builder managed to befriend Richard and helped him begin to clear his yard bit by bit, eventually coordinating a busy bee of sorts which saw local townspeople change their way of thinking and actually help this poor man begin to work his way out of the rut he had found himself in. 

I began thinking about our own neighbours.  Living in the suburbs, there isn’t a community feel here as there would be in a country town.  While we often stop and speak to the lovely couples in the houses directly across from us, or give a wave to one another as we drive down the street and so on, our actual neighbours in the house next door are virtually unknown.  If I bumped into either of them at the local shops, I probably wouldn’t even recognise them.  

Back when I was teaching, I witnessed a real community feel in the tiny private primary school where I worked.  Meal rosters were organized by families to help other ones who were dealing with sickness or tough times, parents regularly volunteered to help out at school busy bees and fundraisers and a few lovely Mums on occasion would bake cakes and treats for us teachers for morning tea ‘just because’.  A friend of mine who recently had her third baby told me about the lovely community at her eldest daughter’s school who had kindly organised meals for their family in those early ‘newborn weeks’.

For me though, my greatest sense of community has been definitely felt here in blogland.  I feel proud to be part of a group who rally together to support others in times of need, who write emails filled with encouragement and kind words when they’re needed and who share their expertise with one another where they can (thank you Katrina!!)  

I’d love to hear your own experiences of community spirit… How is your relationship with your neighbours?  Are they the type you could borrow a cup of sugar from?  Have you found yourself in a caring school or church community?  Have you too been surprised by the support shown for one another here online?


Cute mixed media collage above by Laura Wennstrom


17 comments:

  1. I guess this atmosphere of positivity and encouragement is what drives us back here most days and makes being here addictive. It is so heartwarming to be appreciated for our little efforts and to be commiserated with when we are feeling blah or struggling. It is that warmth and energy coming my way that makes me want to give it out and encourage, give and be there for others here. I saw the same programme and was heartened too..but also disapointed by the reporters who seemed just to want to broadcast the misery and shock element of his story..without really helping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's why I found it sad... that this poor man had become a spectacle of sorts :( I Googled the show afterwards and was happy to read that locals were providing home cooked meals for him and trying to help in that way. The show just really made me think about how a change in attitude towards others who we 'don't really know' can make a world of difference :)

      Delete
  2. Funny you write this Amanda, now we have very dear friends who live only 4 houses down, and we often chat to an elder couple across the road. But yesterday while at woollies the lady in front of me gave me a little smile and I smiled back wondering whre I knew her from, it wasnt till she walked away my daughter said mum I think that lady is our neighbour. Wow I was floored I didnt even realise, They have lived next to us for nearly 2 years, and well I dont even know their names let alone what they look like. That I dont like, I am friendly person but we just havent crossed paths.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amanda, we have a great sense of community here at and around Number 10. MONT and our neighbour put a gate through the side fence so we had easy access to each other for Friday night drinks....and when their kids were younger we would always be here and easily accessible in case they needed us when their parents were at work.
    We get together fairly regularly with a number of neighbours in the street. We call it four up-three down. Four houses on our side of the street and three on the other. All the kids get on well and the adults...well: casserole nights, drink nights BBQ's...we all get on really well.
    Maybe you could organise a casserole night with your neighbours. It's a great way to get to know everyone
    Lesley
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your street sounds like fun!! A definite sense of community around your parts :)

      Delete
  4. When I was a child we had great friends in the street that we played with, we knew all of our neighbours too. Now, well, I know the names of the people either side of us and the ladies over the road, but that's it. I do say hello to a few of the regular dog walkers that Molly always barks at. The lady over the road invited us across for a Christmas get together which was nice and has helped me with some stories about the history of our house but it doesn't quite seem the same as my childhood.
    Blogging has a nice sense of community but it seems to have cooled off a bit. Lots of my regular readers don't seem to drop by anymore and I feel quite sad about it if I'm being honest, as I consider them my friends. It makes me wonder if I have done something wrong. Maybe I'm just being silly, but I really do sense a shift. Instagram has some of those old blogging community feelings so that's nice.
    This is such a disjointed somment Amanda, but is just a few of my thoughts. I have watched a few of those hoarder shows and the worrying thins for me is that I understand how it happens. I have hoarding tendencies. Bit scary, but I try to keep it in check. When I do throw things out I do occassionally get nervous, but for the most part I feel good.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand what you mean about the blogging community having cooled off and in hindsight, the support I guess I'm talking about tends to come from the same lovely souls, not the community as a whole. It's the every day comments that seem to have definitely eased off. There are faces I haven't seen comment here in a long time but then again, I'm so behind in the blogs I follow that people are probably feeling the same way about me :(

      I am the opposite of a hoarder :) Being surrounded by clutter seriously does my head in, that's why I'm having a big spring clean at the moment :)

      Delete
  5. I know neighbors either side of me and across the road. We look after each others places when we go away collect the mail put bins out that kind of thing. A single Mum lives on the other side of me my partner has helped her fix her leaking taps and mowed the lawn! But theres some neighbors I smile and wave at and get nothing - it makes me a little mad like how hard is it to crack a smile and get to know people makes me think one day they will need someone and there wont be anyone there for them.
    The blogging community is definatley a place of friendliness and support and in fact I think of my fellow bloggers as my friends even though we've never met I feel that I know them perhaps better than I know some of my friends :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Last night I was watching a show on the Amish people and admiring their sense of community and simple living. It made me a bit sad, as its obviously not at all like that where I live, and without getting into a political debate, sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we lived like that now.i like the idea - though I know MANY would not! Ha ha. Cassie.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Amanda, our next door neighbours have been friends of our family for years and years...so we're very lucky. They called me the other night to see if I wanted company while Cam was away (bless them). I have met our other neighbours and they all seem sweet. The lady across the road likes to feed us cake :) But I don't think the community feel is as strong as what it was when I was growing up. We used to play with all the kids around us and everyone knew each other well. But that was in the country...so I'm not sure if it would have been the same elsewhere... Blogging is another form of community for me. And it does make being a stay at home mum less isolating. I hope you're having a great week! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. hi amanda,
    i am so lucky in my estate.. its so small here and my neighbours and i are all very friendly. we have gone on holidays together, share bdays together, christmases, babysitting. its a real family environment. The kids have grown up together and there is a lovely little park on the next street that they all love to play on. I guess the downside is that there isnt a lot of privacy and everyone knows everything you do. But, they are all good people, so its okay! have a fab week amanda!
    laura xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do know my neighbours next door (behind me and across the road too) we often have a chat, I know that if I needed anything I could ask and I'm sure that she wouldn't mind me borrowing something but in saying that I don't go over for a cup of tea but it is nice to be friendly. I used to have the most gorgeous lady who lived down the road from me, we clicked straight away, I'd go down for cups of tea and we'd have long chats sadly she has moved away, I still miss our chats.

    I love the blogging community and enjoy the people who I have developed friendships with, the support I have gained as well as the encouragement too I really have valued.

    Wishing you a wonderful week. xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this post Amanda. It's also a subject close to my heart - and something I have been thinking about writing about for a while as it is very much a focus where we live...We bought in what can be described as an 'experimental village' - built in the 1970s - lovely light-filled architect designed townhouses - about 80 or so - set on a golf course overlooking the mountains - with a spine path connecting the village - natives plantings - a community centre (yoga, art room, pool, etc) - and a very active body corporate. It was established by a bunch of public servants in the 70s, who had moved to Canberra for work and were craving that sense of community lacking in the newly thriving capital...We know a lot of people in the 'village' but there is a lovely balance between looking out for neighbours and being friendly etc whilst still being able to retain a sense of privacy. I am quite close to one or two people here and often find little cards tucked in my letterbox or a bunch of herbs/veggies on my doorstep....Gosh, it all sounds very Pleasantville, doesn't it?!? It really is as good as this though, I'm not exaggerating. K and I always comment about how lucky we are to live where we do........Blogging is a wonderful community to be a part of too, I agree x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds like such a lovely environment to be a part of... what a great set up and what caring neighbours you must have. your village set-up sounds wonderful! x

      Delete
  11. I've always been lucky enough to be part of close communities. As a child (in Sydneys inner west) I knew nearly everyone around us and would play everyday with the kids in our street. We had a back lane and would play there under the watchful eye of Johnny, an ex-wharfie who lived across the road. He would sit on his verandah and yell out when cars were coming. I have very fond memories from when I was a child and I still carry those friendships close to my heart. My parents were heavily involved in community projects and instilled in all 5 of my us, a sense of responsibility to help others.
    I married, and we moved to another suburb. We lived in a small blue house on the corner of a culdesac. We had our girls and got to know all of our neighbours. I loved living there, The children all played at the end of the culdesac whilst the adults took turns watching over them. Often someone would bring you a cuppa, just because. We lived there for 7 years and I miss them dearly however a tree change was in order.
    Now I live in the small country town. It suits us to a tea. It's a typical country town with everyone pitching in to do their bit. My daughters school sounds like the one you used to work in. Its rather small but has a strong sense of loyalty and love towards the children. Parents play a pivotal roll at the school. We do reading with the kids, run the canteen and help with craft projects. I try to fly under the radar a bit when it comes to committees (not my thing) however I do help others when I can. Alot of my girlfriends work out of town so I often have their children. I can't really explain how it works here. It's just a feeling that you know people would be there if you needed them. Even if they don't know you personally. They just do :)
    Anywho, I've waffled. I'm glad that you've found your community here in blogland. I think it's interesting that the feeling of community extends to what we create online. It's a new way to feel part of something special. Whether or not that has contributed to a lack of community spirit in the traditional sense I don't really know? What I do know is that you're an asset to us all lovely :) Thankyou for bringing back my memories. It was really nice. x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Amanda...my name is Pia and I too am from Perth. I am relatively new to your blog, but love to read it and relate to as I too am a stay at home Mummy of 3 little ones( 2 are at school)We are very fortunate to live in a lovely neighbourhood and only have 2 direct neighbours on either side of us as we live opposite a lake...but our neighbours are wonderful people and are always there should I need them as my husband frequently spends long periods of time overseas for his work...they are kind of like substitute grandparents for my kids!!!!
    I have to ask you....your face looks soooo familiar...is your sister a teacher by any chance at a catholic school...her name..Anita as my children go to our local private school and there is a teacher there that could pass as your twin!!! Have a great day and once again I love to read your posts x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pia, thanks so much for introducing yourself :) I'm so glad that you like visiting my little corner of blogland.

      I do have a sister, but she's not a teacher and her name isn't Anita and to be honest, I don't think we look all that alike :) How funny that I have a 'twin' out there :)

      Delete

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment - it really makes my day!!