Supporting others

“If you don’t have the gift of a loving, supportive family, be that gift for someone else. It doesn’t have to be a relative, just someone you know who is alone or hurting over the holiday.”  Joel Osteen

I have been very blessed in my life to have friends, who have become family.

Growing up, many of the neighbours were related and I so wanted to be with those families.  They taught me about community and sharing with others less fortunate.  The adult siblings and their families were very close, laughter and love were very present in their homes.

This sense of community followed me, when I found myself at nineteen at the Alice Springs airport waiting to be collected by a new flat mate and fellow bank employee.  Most of the staff at the bank were from interstate, we all resided in the Bank’s accommodation – either at the units or in a joint household.  The Manager and Operations Manager had separate housing, however, we all visited regularly and always had the “orphans’” Christmas Day at the Manager’s home – even when he was in hospital in Adelaide following his heart attack.  We celebrated and commiserated together during the time I spent in Alice.  The same happened when we transferred to Katherine, and our network expanded with other like communities within the town, Police, RAAF, teachers and health.

It was difficult when we relocated to Canberra, as I was six months pregnant with our first child and did not work for long, prior to maternity leave.  This impacted on my social activity and making new friends.  Thankfully, when we purchased our first home together – a neighbour saw the nappies on the line from a few doors up.  We became friends and bonded over both our husband’s working shift work and away.  We often had dinner together, then her husband would walk me home with the young one, check the house for me and leave.  Got to love the police for thinking of that!

I have been very lucky to have great neighbours, and over the years in our current neighbourhood – our family also experienced positive experiences with the neighbours.  Whilst some of them have moved on or passed on – we still have the connections.  Whilst we were away on our extended holiday, a neighbour knocked on the door to see if we were okay as he hadn’t seen us for some time.  Our eldest son was there that day and cheekily said that we were cashed up and spending his inheritance overseas!  This neighbour was invited to our pizza night on our return.