Nova Village In Local News

The following article was published in the Busselton Dunsborough Times on 22nd May 2020 – With restrictions now being lifted across the State we will always remember proudly the way our Nova Village community navigated through the unusual territory COVID 19 caused.

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light” Helen Keller (1880 – 1968). The importance of friendship through trials was not lost on the renowned author and activist Helen Keller who knew deeply the reality of hardship as she lived the majority of her life as both a blind and deaf woman. Her words remind us of the significance true friendship brings to our human experience, most acutely felt through challenging times. In 2002 Nova Village Busselton was established to provide an independent residential alternative that prioritized and facilitated this innate need people, of all ages, have for friendship and community. Over the last 18 years the community spirit of the residents at Nova has always been evident, whether it was bravely riding a Nova Village bus float with friends down Queen Street for Busselton Festival week, packing out the village square for a Friday night barbeque, large fundraising events supporting cancer research or simply rallying around individuals faced with particular life challenges. Though it may be fair to say that the COVID 19 pandemic has been the context in which the community spirit of Nova Village residents has been the most ever apparent.

When lock downs occurred across Western Australia a village publication was quickly created by Nova resident Jan Spencer that has helped keep the village community connected and entertained with weekly correspondence full of games, jokes, puzzles, and interesting reads. Neighbours are truly looking out for the needs of one other, whether through assisting with grocery shopping, encouraging participation in group exercise or simply enjoying a chat on the porch. With restrictions starting to ease some resident’s have even started hosting driveway gatherings with their neighbours enjoying some laughs and a glass of red. Kate J, a Nova Village residents described the community at Nova during the COVID 19 pandemic aptly saying, “More than ever, now in Lockdown, we really appreciate our community spirit here in the Village. The fact that we can walk around the Village in safety, pass others on our way, stop and have a chat and move on, is much more than people living in suburbia can do, many of whom don’t even know or care about their neighbours. We have a very caring community and one that also enjoys a bit of fun and nonsense, good for the heart and soul.”

Helen Keller knew the significance friendship brought to her life when faced with challenges most will never have to endure. Through these unusual and challenging times our region and world faces, we too have seen more clearly the enduring benefits of friendship and community at Nova Village. They are qualities we enjoy during the good times and those which we deeply need through the tough ones.