After the 2019–20 bushfires, the Colo Heights Community Hall became a place of connection, serving as a Recovery Hub for the local community. From this grew a tightknit group of local mums and their kids who met regularly for a mums and bubs group. Over the years, this has evolved into a community crèche, exercise group, and a regular opportunity for locals to catch up over a cuppa while connecting with community leaders, mental health and community workers, and council staff.
The challenge was that these gatherings took place during the week, meaning many of the dads and other blokes in the community couldn’t attend due to work commitments. Like many people living in rural areas, they often spend the week at work and weekends looking after their properties, leaving little opportunity and not nearly enough time to simply come together.
What the community wanted was a family event. A gathering. A shindig. A movie night.
As part of the Halls with Heart project, RAMHP was proud to support the community to bring the idea to life. An outdoor screen was booked, the community pulled together with hotdogs and venison nachos, and there was free popcorn for all – because you can’t have a movie night without popcorn.
Most importantly, families came together. The blokes turned up, caught up with mates, had a feed, watched a movie with the family, and enjoyed something that’s often hard for them to find – a chance to simply connect.