Jabiru Community Day brings fun and connection

A Jabiru Community Day was held on 8 February, bringing together local residents, new families, and visitors for a relaxed, family-friendly event. The day included a community barbecue with hotdogs and a range of condiments, the pool inflatable enjoyed by children of all ages, and opportunities for people new to Jabiru to connect with familiar and friendly faces. The event was supported by volunteers and attracted close to 100 community members, creating a welcoming space focused on connection, inclusion, and community wellbeing.

The Jabiru Community Day was held as an alternative community celebration after it was not possible to deliver an event on Australia Day due to capacity constraints. Rather than cancelling altogether, the decision was made to host the event at a later date to ensure the community still had an opportunity to come together in a positive, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

The event also aimed to strengthen community connection, welcome new families and visitors to Jabiru, and support community wellbeing by providing a relaxed, family-friendly space where people could connect, socialise, and feel a sense of belonging.

The success of the Jabiru Community Day was driven overwhelmingly by the volunteers, whose time, energy, and willingness to step up made the event possible. Volunteers supported every aspect of the day, including set-up, food preparation, serving at the barbecue, supervision of activities, and pack-down. Their calm coordination and teamwork ensured the event ran smoothly and safely, allowing families and children to simply enjoy being together.

The volunteers’ contribution went well beyond logistics they created a welcoming atmosphere, engaged with community members, and played a key role in helping new families feel comfortable and included. Without their commitment and generosity, the event would not have gone ahead in the way it did.

Wellbeing Services Coordinator Hans Weshe said, “It was one of those days where everything just came together. The weather held, the community turned up, and the timing was perfect for welcoming new families who have recently moved to Jabiru for work. We received really strong feedback from people saying they felt welcomed and supported, which made the whole event incredibly worthwhile.”

This event was supported by Australia Day Council NT, West Arnhem Regional Council, Sodexo and the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel.