With a community in isolation and many people experiencing personal and financial difficulty during the Coronavirus pandemic, the City of Gosnells, Western Australia, decided to take a unique approach to the delivery of its popular programs and events.
A new initiative called Home But Not Alone sprang to life, with a focus on connecting the community through kindness and keeping people physically and mentally active and involved in their community.
Mayor, David Goode, said the City had to think very differently to bring about unity while people stayed safe at home.
“Like many organisations, we are offering a comprehensive range of home-based online activities but it has been our driveway events that have brought the most joy and amazing feedback from residents.
“On Easter Saturday in 40C heat, the Easter Bunny hopped into every suburb within the City of Gosnells on the back of our volunteer Bush Fire Brigade trucks to deliver more than 35,000 chocolate eggs to the young and young at heart.
“It was a fantastic operation, with residents observing the 1.5m social distancing rules and staff pulling out all the stops to ensure Easter was still a special time for our community.
“With driveway Dawn Services being held across the country for Anzac Day, the City encouraged residents to show their support for defence force personnel, past and present, with a commemorative poster to display on their homes and share their moments on the City’s social media pages.
“During May we are getting our groove on with a Driveway Disco. Residents simply have to nominate their street and, if chosen, the City will bring the good vibes, great tunes and some crazy moves to get people dancing in their driveways, which will also be simultaneously telecast on Facebook Live.”
Other ways the City of Gosnells is boosting community kindness and connection is through livestream concerts, online workshops, fitness challenges, watch parties, couch crafts and loads of inspirational things to do, all from the comfort of home.
