A Christmas message from the Mayor Cr Kylie Spears

With Christmas fast approaching, it is time for families to reunite and enjoy the festive season.

Anyone who knows me well knows that Christmas is my favourite time of the year. The Christmas season provides us with the opportunity to spread cheer and celebrate the joy of giving.

It’s a time to remember those in our community who are less fortunate and to extend goodwill whenever we can. This Christmas, I encourage you to support local charitable organisations, give where you can and show kindness to strangers, as I know many of you have been doing throughout this challenging year.

Let’s take some of that goodwill and human fellowship into the new year and make 2021 a year of hope and peace for everyone.

As COVID-19 restrictions are slowly being eased, Council will be here to support our community to re-engage and recover from the pandemic. I have been working with Hope City Mission and Winter Shelter who are providing food relief and support for our most vulnerable community members. This is just one of the many examples of how our community has come together to help each other during these times.

2020 has shown how tremendously resilient the human spirit can be. I am especially heartened by the many stories of positivity, resilience, community spirit and kindness in Maroondah.

I would like to encourage everyone to support our local traders and hospitality providers throughout the municipality as they need our business now more than ever. Who knows you might discover some hidden gems in your own neighbourhood that you haven’t visited before.

Christmas and the New Year period is a very busy time on our roads. With the anticipation to join loved ones, enjoy festive parties and reach holiday destinations, I urge everyone in the community to take care and drive responsibly.

And finally, on behalf of my fellow Councillors, I would like to wish all our residents, their friends and family, a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Please remember to look after each other and make sure that if you are planning any gatherings, you do so safely and within the current restrictions.