Our Town Berri

01/03/2026

Ski for Life is our valued supporter who through grant funding allows us to continue to offer the Raise mentoring program at Berri Regional Secondary College. This amazing program supports young people and community mentors to build great relationships and connections.

Bravo 👏 and thankyou to all the teams, we look forward to welcoming you back to the Riverland next weekend. Safe travels.

25/02/2026

RAISE MENTORING 2026

Raise Mentoring is looking for more community members to bring on board for the next wave of mentoring at Berri Regional Secondary College in 2026! The Raise data from 2025 shows with mentoring, the young mentees are seeing their confidence improve, their communication skills improve, increased mental health, thinking positively about themselves and the future.

Becoming a mentor to a young person can change the course of their life by helping them cope better with life challenges.

Raise will provide you with their best-practice youth mentor training to ensure you're equipped with the tools you need to support a young person. Once trained, you'll be matched with a mentee in a program convenient to you. With full support from a Raise Program Counsellor, you'll meet weekly with your mentee — offering them your time, your ear, and your encouragement.

Sign up to be a mentor here: https://www.raise.org.au/volunteers/apply-to-become-a-youth-mentor/

Please contact Carly Johnson with any further questions (carly.johnson@raise.org.au).

24/02/2026

FRIENDS OF BERRI

Wednesday, March 11 | 5pm | 23 Wilson Street

Come along and chat with community about Our Town Berri's 2026 plans!

Come along to Friends of Berri, a community group built and led by community! An informal gathering space for people who want to see our home on the river thrive. Friends of Berri is a chance to meet your community, share, build ideas, innovate and yarn.

23/02/2026

FUNDERS VISIT

We had the privilege of inviting our new funding partners, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Fay Fuller Foundation , and DHS, to Berri last week.

On their first day in town, they were introduced to Britney Townsend, our River Families First lead, where she was able to tell her story navigating parenthood and her journey in becoming a community leader - including her new work with the Office of Early Childhood Development.

They were then taken on a tour of Berri, to understand our community diversity, visiting Riverland Central Church and learning about the Food on the Table initiative from Emma Gwiazda. Followed by a trip to Berri Regional Secondary College's Cultural Garden where Aunty Sue gave them an in depth breakdown of the development and progression of the space, including the future plans of artworks and metal work being installed.

With a day full of rich conversation and deep understanding of our region, our visitors spent their afternoon exploring and asking questions.

The following day, Our Town Berri invited along collaborators and partners, Carly from Raise Mentoring, Di from Friends of Berri and the Revive and Thrive Collective, Mayor Ella Winnall, Sam Mitchell Training and Kirste and Sam from Ramble Arts, and each of them spoke to how Our Town Berri shows up for them. It was a lovely moment to see all the ripples and impacts Our Town Berri has been making in our community over these last five years.

We're so proud of the work we're doing and supporting. What an incredible opportunity to share that with our funders.

Thank you so much to Jen (PRF), Kate (FFF), Belinda (DHS), Caroline (DHS) and Gary (DHS) for taking the time to join us in the Riverland and deeply engage with our community.

22/02/2026

WREATH OF STORIES

Friend of Our Town Berri, Karl Raams, is producing a wonderful project for River Fringe!

The Riverland Wreath of Stories is a free community event where people can tell their stories through lengths of ribbon. Leave your mark by writing, drawing or colouring. As people add their stories, Karl will weave them into the wreath to form a collective community story.

Lend your voice and make sure your story is weaved into the circle.

Karl is running sessions all over the Riverland over Feb and March, with one in Berri on March 20!

Register: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/riverland-wreath-of-stories-af2026

20/02/2026

Upcoming Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Mental Health 1st Aid Training - Berri 🖤💛❤️ 🖤🤍💚💙

🗓️ WHEN: Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th of March 2026.

📍WHERE: Riverland Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Council of SA, Berri - 23 Cornwall Street, Berri.

👥 WHO: Anyone aged over 18 & above.

❓WHY: Recognise signs & symptoms of mental health problems impacting Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander adults.

For more information on how to register and prices please 📧 sammitchelltraining@outlook.com or send us a message

18/02/2026

📣 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻
Berri Barmera Council’s Community Grants Program is for groups to receive support to develop projects, programs and events that enhance community wellbeing and increase participation in social and leisure activities.

For more information or to apply, visit the council
website 👉 www.berribarmera.sa.gov.au/our-community/grants
Applications close 5pm, Monday March 23.

Berri Barmera Council’s Community Grants Program is for community groups to receive support to develop projects, programs and events that enhance wellbeing and increase participation in social and leisure activities.

17/02/2026

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT

Dates and times to be confirmed. Follow Berri Community Centre Noticeboard for updates.

The ac.care Berri Community Centre is about to get a splash of colour - and you’re invited to help design it.Work alongside talented Riverland artist Jarrod Loxton to create a mural that celebrates what community means to you.

This is a unique chance to learn from Jarrod about the artistic process - from the first idea to the finished artwork - and build new creative skills for spray can art along the way.

Contact Sue Dayman on (08) 8580 5300 or email sue.dayman@accare.org.au to register!

16/02/2026

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT

Sunday, March 22 | 12pm | Hayden Stoeckel Swimming Pool, Berri

Make a splash with the Riverland Marilyn Swim. Come dressed as a Marilyn and show your support in the fight against cancer.

🧜‍♀️ We'll be joined by Marianna the Mermaid
🤍 Come dressed as Marilyn and enter free
🔗 Follow the link and use code REGIONAL26

https://www.themarilyns.org/home?lightbox=/event-selectio

08/02/2026

OUR TOWN COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP

Our Town is delighted to announce a new collaborative partnership with Paul Ramsay Foundation, Fay Fuller Foundation and the Department of Human Services South Australia which will support a five-year investment into the Our Town work of Berri and Mid Murray. This opportunity builds on over five years of community-led work and learnings in Berri and Mid Murray and provides new certainty and continuity to invest in deepening relationships, ideas, and local leadership and expertise in meaningful ways.

"We are now resourced longer term to work as social innovators in our community. Building the capabilities of our people to lead the changes we want to see to improve positive wellbeing, is key to our work. We are grateful to the funding partners who have come to the table in a respectful and flexible way, centering the wisdom of our people." - Julie Ahrens, Representative of Our Town Berri

Please read the full article below
https://www.ourtownsa.com.au/news/philanthropy-and-government-co-investment

07/02/2026

Nature and our gardens are great for positive well-being. Free workshop at the Berri Pavilion 17/2 at 10am with the wonderful Andrew 🪏