General News
6 June, 2025
Neighbourhood Watch returns to Dunolly
Dunolly locals gathered on Wednesday night in a collective first step to reestablishing the town’s Neighbourhood Watch.
Almost 30 locals filled the town hall not only to learn how to form a Neighbourhood Watch but also best practices in protecting their belongings.
Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Victoria started as a police program in 1983, although it is now an independent organisation, which aims to minimise preventable crime and strengthen community ties.
NHW Victoria member services manager Nicoll Peschek guided the group through informative slides on how locals could benefit from a neighbourhood watch.
“Prevention is 100 percent better for everybody,” she said.
Policing the Dunolly community since September last year, Senior Constable Brandon Cornwill reassured the community that overall they were safe.
“Dunolly’s a wonderful community and on today’s standard it’s a safe community, however, it’s always a good idea to try and maintain that,” he said.
While NHW groups aren’t vigilantes, they do help stop crime. Ms Peschek explained this is through strengthening community bonds, sharing information, running community activities, and working in partnership with local police and other organisations.
“If we’re all looking out for each other it makes it more difficult for the crooks to do their thing,” she said.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Sen Con Cornwill who emphasised the value of collaboration.
“I have one set of eyes but in this community and the surrounding communities there are thousands of sets of eyes,” he said.
“I can only see so much on my own but there are things you’ll see on a day-to-day basis that if you don’t tell me about I will never know,” he said.
Acting Sergeant Crystal Clark explained Sen Con Cornwill’s arrival has been “extremely busy” — but that’s a good thing.
“That has seen some of these people who were targeting Dunolly and the surrounding area flee,” she said.
She warned locals Sen Con Cornwill’s efforts will likely show an increase in the crime stats in Dunolly but hopes they will then decline.
“I don’t want you to get concerned and think ‘oh my gosh there’s all this crime’,” she said.
After the previous Dunolly Neighbourhood Watch lost momentum during COVID, locals seem keen to reestablish the group, organising the next meeting for July 2, 6.30 pm at the Dunolly Town Hall.
The first meeting has also provided clarity on the slashed car tyres in Dunolly late last year.
According to Acting Sgt Clark, Sen Con Cornwill had processed the offender within 10 hours.
For further information on NHW, what their goal is, or just how to better protect yourself and your neighbours, visit https://nhw.com.au