Housing estates have exploded in the north and west along with commercial developments.

The city’s population is predicted to hit 40,000 by 2031, the Victoria In Future report says. But much of that growth could be at the expense of smaller towns in the region.

While numbers of people, shops and houses are measures of growth, one aspect rarely spoken about is maintaining a sense of community.

The south-west is a strong, vibrant community. The best example is how we banded together to raise $5 million for Warrnambool’s cancer care centre.

On Sunday that community spirit and purpose will be on show when hopefully thousands of people turn out for an All Stars football match aimed at raising money for the Leila Rose Foundation.

The foundation is another example of what makes our community so great. It was founded by Warrnambool doctor Andrew Chow (pictured) and his wife Tracy after their daughter Leila died at age 21 months from a rare childhood cancer.

They decided to help others by creating the foundation which assists families of children fighting rare cancers. It is the only organisation in Australia that focuses on children with rare cancers.

In its fifth year, the foundation has spent $110,000 helping 23 families – four from the south-west.

Sunday’s football match, thanks to the involvement of ambassador, Warrnambool’s triple Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis as one coach and AFL legend Mick Malthouse as the other, has had national promotion. That promotion not only paints the foundation in a good light but it reflects well on Warrnambool and the region.

When Dr Chow addressed many of the volunteer players at a recent training session about what the foundation did and his hopes to raise funds for its work, you could have heard a pin drop.

On Sunday there will be 70 players ranging in size, shape, ages and abilities putting on a show. The game has nothing to do with winning or losing. It’s about helping others. That’s what communities like ours are all about.