January 2021 Bulletin

NHWT 35 Year Celebrations

In 1986 the very first Neighbourhood Watch started at Clarence in the suburb of Risdon Vale. With the assistance of a Clarence City Council Community Recovery Grant celebrations for this anniversary will commence with a Cuppa With a Cop (CWAC) at the Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre at 11am on Wednesday, 17 February 2021. Planning is well underway for members of the Risdon Vale community to enjoy a cuppa and some morning tea with their local police officers. If you are in the area at that time you would be most welcome to join in.

If you can’t make it to Risdon Vale on this day, keep an eye out in future Monthly Bulletins for CWACs at other locations. Better still, work with your local police and invite them to one of your own CWACs!

Facebook

Facebook is probably the best known and most commonly used form of social media at the moment. The reality is that Facebook is a fast and effective method for sharing information. NHWT cannot stand still, sharing information is our core business and we will be using social media more and more into the future. Some of our groups have been using Facebook for years and others are just getting started. Riverside Neighbourhood Watch is about to commence using their Facebook Page to circulate regular crime reports as well as other important news and updates for their suburb and surrounds. Please give them support by visiting their site at https://www.facebook.com/RiversideNHWTAS/ and make sure you Like and Follow it! After that, do the same at the NHWT Page, https://www.facebook.com/NHWTas/ and check out the recent updates.

Neighbourhood Watch International Conference

The inaugural International Conference will be held at Sea World on the Gold Coast on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 May 2021. An international NHW conference has not been held in Australia before. Events such as this create a reason to travel within our safe COVID-19 borders to experience what works in the Neighbourhood Watch world. The benefits of social contact with other like-minded people can be stimulating and rewarding. Conferences are designed to be enjoyed with the added benefit of learning something new. Tasmanian members are encouraged to have a holiday in the sun with fringe NHW benefits. Keep monitoring the NHWA website at https://www.nhwa.com.au/ for further updates.

Scam Alert

Most scams go through three stages: the approach; communication; and payment. Scammers pretend to be something or someone they are not. Email is a favoured delivery method and in some cases the scammer will use a name you know and will follow up with a request for money. A recent example occurred this week when one of our members received an email purporting to be from our immediate past President, Jan Dunsby.

A close examination of the email revealed it had grammar, punctuation and syntax errors, and of course, the email address was nothing like Jan’s. With Jan’s permission we are reinforcing the basic rules to protect yourself:

• Be alert to the fact that scams exist
• Be sure you know who you are dealing with
• Do not open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or email – simply delete them.
• Keep your personal details secure
• Be wary of any requests for your details or money.

Key Dates for 2021

• 17 February CWAC at Risdon Vale
• 7 March Clean Up Australia Day
• 28 March Neighbour Day
• 28 April CWAC at Oakdowns
• 21/22 May NHWA International Conference
• 21 July CWAC at Howrah
• 9 September RUOK Day
• 6 October Coffee with a Cop Day
• 20 November NHWT AGM

Initiative List from the Past

The December Bulletin contained a list of six NHW initiatives that have previously been successfully delivered. NHWT members are encouraged to do things that make a difference for their community. Primarily that is sharing information about crime trends, incidents and importantly things we can do to protect ourselves and our property. This Bulletin provides another six initiatives that can improve the safety of our community members and their belongings.

• Cuppa With a Cop
• Dogs on Patrol
• Wheelie Bin Speed Stickers
• Street Signs
• House Signs
• Motor Vehicle Empty Stickers
• No Cash Kept on Premises Stickers
• House Numbering
• Crime Reports
• Newsletters

And in Conclusion

• Volunteering is like a communal glue that holds the community tight, that looks after the frail, the needy, the distraught, and that builds stronger, better communities. Respected Australian Demographer, Bernard Salt.
• Encourage all your members and friends to join NHWT online at https://nhwtas.org.au/join as this is how you register as an individual member – and there is no cost.