By Luke Voogt
A Norlane church is holding a Neighbour Day to search for a “community purpose” for a recently freed-up building it owns.
The celebration on Sunday features free food, activities and live music, and will give locals a say on the building’s future, Reverend Peter Jewell said.
“Come along, have some fun and get to know your neighbours a bit better,”
The Corio-Norlane Uniting Church owns the Dorothy Thomson Centre, which Barwon Health had leased for almost 40 years until last November, as an elderly activities area.
“We want it to be a space that enhances the community more than anything, rather than just give it to someone to lease it out,” Rev Jewell said.
The Neighbour Day also features a pop-up op shop and the public debut of the newly-formed North Geelong Community Big Band.
“We’re not great yet but it’s all about the spirit of gathering,” said band coordinator Liz Bonner.
“It’s the brass band concept but we’re saying, ‘anyone can join and we’ll make it work.’
“Too many people get focussed on the negatives of the north. You can either be the victim or do something positive.”
The day will also feature a mix veteran and emerging northern Geelong musicians including Robert Blair, Ian Burrowes , Haziel Rodil and Hannah Reeves.
The op shop will raise funds for the church and its national charity arm Uniting.
Rev Jewell thanked Geelong council and the groups supporting the day.
“We need to work together to enhance the community because we can’t do it all by ourselves,” he said.
