As NHW TAS prepares to celebrate this anniversary, the milestone offers a chance to reflect on the past, but also to look ahead. Central to the anniversary year will be the continuation of the annual calendar drawing competition for primary school students, a long-standing initiative that captures the spirit of NHW through the eyes of the next generation.

For 2026, the calendar competition theme will concentrate on 40 years of NHW TAS, while continuing its consistent focus on what it means to be a good neighbour. The competition has become a flagship activity, engaging children and young families in ideas of kindness, awareness, and shared responsibility, and reinforcing the values that have underpinned NHW since its beginnings.

The strength of this connection between past and future was evident again in 2025, when children from across Tasmania expressed their understanding of neighbourhood connection through their artwork. The winning entries now feature on the cover and monthly pages of the 2026 NHW TAS calendar, with runner-up drawings also included in a special montage. Together, the artworks form a visual celebration of community, creativity, and continuity.

The calendar competition winners were recognised at a presentation ceremony held alongside the annual NHW TAS Awards event, bringing together children, families, volunteers, and members in a shared celebration.

As NHW TAS approaches its 40th anniversary, the calendar drawing competition stands as a fitting tribute to the organisation’s legacy. Through the creativity of children and the involvement of families and volunteers, it reflects both the history and the promise to the communities it will continue to support in the years ahead.