When we launched the very first National Day of Connection, our hope was simple: inspire communities across Australia to pause, reach out and remind one another that no one has to face life's challenges alone. In Berri, South Australia, that hope came to life in the most inspiring way. Led by Raise Program Counsellor Carly Johnson, who also works as a Community Weaver with Our Town Berri, the Riverland community embraced National Day of Connection with warmth, creativity and genuine collaboration.
A community-wide effort
Working through her two roles, Carly brought together local businesses, schools, community organisations and volunteers to create a welcoming Connection Morning in the heart of Berri.
The event wasn't just about raising awareness of Raise Mentoring, it celebrated the incredible power of community partnerships.
Carly along with her colleagues Julie, Kirstie and Britney led the charge as the whole town came together to tackle loneliness, one conversation, one smile and one shared moment at a time. Local organisations generously stepped forward:
Riverland Active participants welcomed visitors with free barista-made coffees.
Sprouts Café donated delicious baked treats.
Sunsetlane Legacy created special biscuits stamped with messages including Connect, Smile and Be Kind.
The event was promoted through the local newspaper and Riverland Radio, ensuring the whole community knew they were invited.
More than 80 people attended the morning tea, proving that when someone creates the opportunity to connect, people are eager to be part of it.
As Carly reflected afterwards:
"It's pretty empowering to know that community members acknowledge the good things happening locally and want to be involved and connect with others."
Every link tells a story
One of the highlights of the morning was a growing paper chain, first started by Raise mentees, where community members answered one simple question:
"What does connection mean to you?"
Each colourful link represented another person's thoughts, hopes or experiences of belonging.
Visitors also completed National Day of Connection word searches, sparking conversations across generations about why connection matters.
Then came a particularly moving moment.
Students from Berri Primary School visited with felt hearts they had lovingly created as part of their 1000 Hearts Project. As they handed them to members of the public, some recipients became emotional, with students later sharing that a few people were moved to tears by such an unexpected act of kindness.
Sometimes the smallest gestures create the biggest impact.
Taking connection into schools
The community event was only the beginning.
Later that day, Carly joined students at Berri Regional Secondary College, where young people in the Learning Centre had baked and prepared a morning tea for staff and parents.
In the lead-up to National Day of Connection, Carly had also visited classes to talk about loneliness and why meaningful relationships are essential for good mental health.
Inspired by those conversations, students baked more than 550 cookies, which they handed out across the school during recess to spark moments of connection between classmates.
The cookies disappeared quickly, but not before creating hundreds of smiles.
Why it matters
Research consistently shows that strong, trusted relationships help young people build confidence, improve wellbeing and develop a stronger sense of belonging.
That's exactly what Raise Mentoring aims to achieve every day through one-on-one mentoring relationships.
National Day of Connection extends that message beyond mentoring, inviting entire communities to create environments where everyone feels seen, valued and connected.
As Berri Barmera Council Mayor Ella Winnall told the local newspaper, The Murray Pioneer
"Celebrating the National Day of Connection locally meant taking a beautiful few moments away from all of our regular lives to just spend some time connecting face-to-face with people from across the community and I think everyone left a little brighter."
Thank you, Carly
Behind every successful community initiative is someone willing to bring people together.
Carly's leadership, passion and ability to build partnerships transformed National Day of Connection into something truly special for the Riverland community. By connecting her work with Raise and Our Town Berri, she demonstrated what's possible when organisations unite around a shared purpose.
It's exactly the kind of community-led action that National Day of Connection was created to inspire.
With plans already underway for National Day of Connection 2027 on 16 June, we can't wait to see what Berri, and communities right across Australia, create next.
Because every conversation matters.
Every act of kindness matters.
And every connection has the power to change someone's day, or even their life.
If you’d like to be part of National Day of Connection on 16 June 2027, you can sign up now to receive updates as we prepare for 2027. https://nationaldayofconnection.org.au/
