Christmas can be a beautiful time of year, but it can also be complicated. For many across Canberra, the festive season brings a mix of joy, longing, memory, and sometimes loneliness. This year, local author and advocate Heidi Prowse OAM, known for her book We Should Have Grown Old Together, is encouraging Canberrans to embrace small but meaningful acts of connection.
Heidi has walked this path herself. After losing her husband Nate, Christmas changed shape completely. It became tender, heavy, and often difficult to face. And yet, she says this year she has taken a gentle step forward.
“After the loss of my husband I have found Christmas to be a really challenging time. But this year I have put up decorations, I have walked the streets around my house to look at Christmas lights and I have carols playing in my home. While it does not change the agonising loss, it reminds me of what Christmas is about. Honouring the love that has shaped us.”
Rather than retreating inward, Heidi is leaning into community and encouraging others to do the same. Her message is simple: look outward. Notice the people around you. Offer kindness freely.
“Not everyone has family nearby. Not everyone has someone to sit with on Christmas Day. A small gesture can offer comfort and remind someone they matter,” she said.
Even the smallest interaction, a wave to a neighbour, a shared smile at the shops, a simple “Merry Christmas” to someone sitting alone at a pub or club, can soften the edges of a difficult season. And across Canberra, several organisations are going a step further by opening their doors for anyone wanting company, warmth, and a shared meal.
Free Community Christmas Lunches Across Canberra
Kippax Uniting Community Centre — Christmas Luncheon
Supported by the Ginninderry Community
📅 Thursday 25 December
⏰ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
📍 UnitingCare Kippax, Corner of Luke Street and Hardwick Crescent, Holt
A free community lunch open to individuals, families, and neighbours. A warm indoor meal, friendly faces, and a relaxed place to spend Christmas.
RSVP: front.office@kippax.org.au or (02) 6254 1733
St John’s Care — Community Christmas Lunch
📅 Thursday 25 December
⏰ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
📍 45 Constitution Avenue, Reid
No bookings required. This welcoming lunch is open to all, offering not just food but connection. St John’s Care will also provide support through their Christmas hampers and outreach programs.
Ureshii Japanese Restaurant — Free Christmas Lunch
📅 Wednesday 24 December 2025
📍 South Point Tuggeranong
A three-course dine-in Christmas meal for 100 people in need.
Bookings essential: (02) 6182 8171
Last year Ureshii quietly served 100 locals with warmth, dignity, and joy. That same generosity continues again this year.
Heidi says these community efforts reflect the heart of the season, compassion, togetherness, and making room for one another.
“Taking part in a community lunch, visiting Christmas lights, or simply wishing someone well can soften the edges of a difficult season. Small acts of connection support our wellbeing, especially when emotions feel heavy.”
Australian research consistently highlights the protective value of social connection, positive routines, and community participation, particularly during periods when loneliness increases. Community meals, shared traditions, and gentle social interactions all contribute to a sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing.
Heidi hopes this message reaches those who need it most — people who may feel isolated, uncertain, or unsure of what Christmas will look like this year.
“Christmas does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the smallest interactions remind us that we are still part of a community that cares.”
For anyone navigating grief or change, her book We Should Have Grown Old Together offers quiet companionship and reflection. It is available now and on sale for Christmas at heidiprowse.shop.
Whether you join a community lunch, invite a neighbour to walk through Christmas lights, or simply offer a kind word to someone sitting alone, this festive season is an opportunity to pause, connect, and remember what truly matters, love, presence, and community.
