Last year, more than 30,000 community members participated in programs, activities, and events delivered by the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre. This tells a powerful story about our community: we are a place where people connect, create, learn, and support one another.
But what if we could imagine even more?
At the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, we believe imagination is one of the most powerful tools a community has. It helps us remember who we are and inspires us to shape who we want to become. That’s why HBNC are inviting the entire community to take part in Illuminate: 100 Days of Imagination starting in April.
This is not just another event to mark on your calendar. It is a gentle interruption to the rhythm of everyday life. For 100 days, Hervey Bay will become a canvas for imagination. Through simple events, signs around town, and small ‘micro-activities’, we are inviting everyone from our youngest children to our most senior elders to rediscover their sense of wonder.
Some key events include: Youth Pitch Event, on April 29 2026, to hear ideas from our young people; Volunteer Conference, May 19, to learn about the future of volunteering; The Great Easter Eggs-pedition in the Botanic Gardens during the April school holidays and Stage Two of the Art Story Wall: Where I Belong? launching for local creatives to share why they love living in Hervey Bay.
While this campaign is fun and creative, it also has a deeper purpose. At HBNC, we are currently planning the next four years for 2030, and we want that future to be shaped by the community. Every idea, every story, and every dream shared during these 100 days will help inform the HBNC Strategic Plan. We want a plan written with the voices of the community, the people who walk our Esplanade, raise families here, run businesses, volunteer, and call Hervey Bay home.
There is no right or wrong way to participate. It might be sharing an idea sparked by a sign in the park, a conversation over coffee, or a creative dream you’ve been holding onto for years. If you would like to get more involved, visit the website to see the activities and events being delivered during April – June.
HBNC has established a Dream Team that meets every Friday from 10 am – 2 pm at the Neighbourhood Hive, where community members come together to share ideas, create projects, and imagine what’s possible. Join us for the next 100 days and let’s bring the village back, one imagination at a time.
Tanya Stevenson
CEO, Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre