A Christmas Message from the Mayor

Published on 19 December 2018

Christmas can be a time of great stress for some when we run around buying last minute presents, lots of food shopping, preparing for visitors, organising meals and cleaning the house.  For blended families it can mean travelling from one set of relatives to another over two or maybe three days to consume ever growing Christmas dinners. 

Through this hustle and bustle we can easily lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas, but if you stop and take a minute to reflect you should see it for what it truly is. It’s a time when those you love, and those who love you, come together to celebrate with you.  And a reminder that there is nothing more important than family and friends. 

Sadly there are many in our community who don’t have that joy and are alone, sad and lonely. And there are still others who do have family but who struggle financially and emotionally to provide them with the Christmas they deserve. 

I recently visited Captain David Davis of the Mildura Salvation Army Depot in Fourteenth Street.  It was nearing lunchtime on a Tuesday and more than a dozen people had come in to have lunch.  Some of these people would be in financial difficulties, others just lonely and craving some human contact.   Two side rooms contained benches full of toys with signs on them saying ‘Boys aged 6 to 9’, ‘Girls aged 3 to 5’ etc.  A few people were selecting presents for their children.   Presents they couldn’t afford to buy.

Captain Davis said they had hundreds of families that needed help.  I noted he said hundreds of families, not hundreds of people.  On Christmas Day the Depot will be full of people, including entire families, having Christmas dinner.  And Captain Davis, his wife and a host of volunteers will be there to provide for them and to support them.

Christmas is a time of giving, not just to family and friends but to those in need, so they can share in the joy that is Christmas.  You can actually give someone you don’t even know a sense of hope for the future with one small gesture.  What an incredible gift that would be. 

We are blessed in this town to have many great organisations such as the Salvation Army, Sunraysia Residential Services, Sunassist and others who are supported by many volunteers who work tirelessly to help those who are disadvantaged.  To all of you I say thank you.  You are truly wonderful people.

To all those who are disadvantaged I sincerely hope you find the support you need and that you have a wonderful Christmas.  May your fortunes change for the better in the coming years.

Finally to all of our wonderful community, on behalf of the Mildura Rural City Council, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.  May you and your family and friends enjoy peace, love and prosperity in the coming year and indeed for many years to come.

Merry Christmas.

Simon Clemence - Mayor