Christine Webster, Murray Pioneer

A volunteer organisation committed to preventing crime in the Waikerie area has gone into recess after 34 years of operation.

Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch met for the last time at a lunch at the Waikerie Club on 5 December.

The group consisted of 25 zone leaders, who between them donated a total of 379 years.

Three of these volunteers were with the organisation since its inception 34 years ago.

At the final meeting, Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch’s former police co-ordinator Dave Miller presented certificates and badges of service to the group members who attended.

Mr Miller served in the police co-ordinator’s role for many years.
Past area coordinator of the organisation, Lynette Nitschke, said the role of these zone leaders included delivering 1000 newsletters, each quarter, across Waikerie and surrounding areas.

She said the group lost its police co-ordinator in the middle of last year, after he transferred to the Barossa Valley and a replacement could not be found.

“Not having police input was a big part of why we felt the group could not continue,” Mrs Nitschke said.

She said a reduction in staff numbers at Waikerie meant police could no longer provide a co-ordinator.

Mrs Nitschke served in the voluntary role of Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch area co-ordinator for 24 years, and had given 12 months’ notice of her intention to retire from the role by December.

Unfortunately, her efforts to find a replacement for herself have so far been unsuccessful, which was another main reason for the organisation folding.

“I felt like I needed a break, I have reached a time in my life where I feel I need to be able to go on holidays,” she said.

“I enjoyed it, it was great, and I loved it, but there comes a time in your life when you need to change tack a little bit.”

Mrs Nitschke said being an area coordinator had meant that she had to also attend regional meetings as well.

“We did keep in touch with all the other areas to ensure we knew what was going on there,” she said.

“We learnt from other towns as well and if we thought someone had a good idea, we would try and include that into what we did also.”

Mrs Nitschke said the Barmera and Renmark branches of Neighbourhood Watch also folded last year, and Loxton was the only town that still had one.

“People are no longer attending Neighbourhood Watch meetings and all of the area co-ordinators have been doing it for a long time,” she said.

Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch decided at its final meeting to transfer its remaining funds to the Riverland Neighbourhood Group, to purchase safety alarms for people affected by domestic violence.

Mrs Nitschke said if an area co-ordinator could be found in the future, the organisation could re-open, as Suzi Huf was still offering her services as area secretary.

“I would be happy to explain to anyone who is interested about what the requirements are,” she said.

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 8 January 2025.