Mayor’s column – Reflections on 2019

As we make away towards Christmas and the New Year it’s appropriate to reflect on the year that is slowly coming to an end.

No doubt, as is plain to see our region is experiencing an extraordinary dry spell. Drought declarations mean that many will spend the next few months anxious about their futures. Christmas will be quiet and involve the many difficult tasks associated with supplementary feeding and watching dwindling water supplies. But this is a time for getting together with as many family members and friends as there can be and even for a short time celebrate, share stories and talk about hope.

For rain, for running water, for greener pastures and subsoil moisture for crops. And for those of us that aren’t directly dependent on the land but live in communities that are, we offer our unwavering support and encouragement.

Whilst there may not be much we can do to change the weather, we can do plenty about making ourselves as resilient as we can and to reflect on those strengths in our community that hold us up.

We take this time to thank those who provide many services of relief, who watch out for us against fires and those that give their time as volunteers.

It’s the time of the year to thank the givers, especially now in this season of gifts.

God bless them all and Merry Christmas to all in the Central Highlands.