Upper Murray Regional
Neighbourhood
House Network
18 Apr 2025
Bringing the community together through partnerships, friendships and fun times has allowed Baranduda Community Centres to deliver their a hugely successful community picnic.
The Community Picnic Day was a vibrant, free event designed to foster connection and showcase the incredible services and programs available at the Baranduda Community Centre. This collaborative event, hosted by the Baranduda Community Centre and Bandi House, brought together a diverse group of local residents for a day full of fun, creativity, and community engagement.
After taking over the management of the Baranduda Community Centre from the Council, Bandiana Neighbourhood House (Band House) identified the need to raise awareness that the centre was no longer run by Wodonga Council. It was also important to inform the community about the neighbourhood house’s mission and the programs offered at the Baranduda location. The Community Picnic Day provided an opportunity to connect with local residents on a large scale, raise awareness about the centre's work, and promote one of Bandi House’s key goals: fostering meaningful connections within the community.
The event saw an impressive turnout of over 200 people, including volunteers, staff, and local participants. A variety of activities catered to all ages, such as face-painting, slime-making, a clothes swap, a pop-up art gallery, a bake sale, games, a BBQ, live music, slushies, and popcorn.
Local residents played a key role in making the day a success. Many donated baked goods and clothes for the swap, volunteered to perform live music, and lent their artwork for display in the pop-up gallery. The sense of community spirit was palpable, with everyone coming together to contribute to the event’s success.
The event incorporated essential community development principles, such as partnerships, community ownership, accessible and affordable, and ensuring a positive and inclusive experience for all involved. Community engagement was promoted through a variety of activities that encouraged participation and strengthened the sense of ownership among attendees. Additionally, the event served as a platform to showcase the centre, and programs available at the centre and beyond.
The Community Picnic Day was free for those who registered in advance, with a $5 fee per family for same-day registrations. Some activities, such as the soft drink stall (gold coin donation) and the bake sale, involved small fees to help cover costs. Staff and volunteers played an essential role in ensuring everything ran smoothly, contributing their time and energy to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
"Several local organizations partnered with us to make the event even more special," said Baranduda Community Centre Coordinator, Karrie Thorne. The Baranduda Fire Brigade, AW Volunteer Resource Bureau, and Wodonga Toy Library participated by setting up stalls and running activities that engaged attendees and highlighted their services. Additionally, A/W Food Share generously provided cans of soft drinks, and Baranduda IGA donated a $50 gift card for a raffle. The collaboration between these organizations was a testament to the power of community partnerships in creating meaningful events that benefit everyone.
"To promote the event, we carried out a pamphlet drop with a group of wonderful volunteers, which helped to spread the word and encourage participation," said Karrie. "This approach allowed us to connect directly with residents."
The success of the inaugural Community Picnic Day has led to plans for making this a biannual event. "The next Community Picnic Day will take place on September 2nd, and we look forward to bringing even more people together for another day of fun, engagement, and connection," said Karrie.
"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible. We can’t wait to see you all at the next Community Picnic Day! Be sure to mark your calendars for September 2nd!"