Christmas to me is celebrating the years end, to include the many cultural traditions throughout the centuries. People come together to rejoice families with familiar Christmas carols purring in the background, over-indulging in food, cheering of glasses clinking, and gathering around the beautifully decorated Christmas table for the slicing of the ham, turkey, and to savour the many treats adorning the meal.
Unfortunately for some, Christmas is a time of sadness, loneliness, desperation, and loss. Many people are alone or feel alone at Christmas. Let's help make them feel valued.
I urge you to be tolerant and reach out to those you either know, or someone you have heard of who is doing it alone or tough. By leaving a small token of either a card or flowers, or a little gift on their doorstep or in the letterbox will brighten their day considerably.
Some events around our Shire this weekend are the free Carols in the Domain at 6pm Saturday and the Dunolly Pool Party from 1pm Sunday, with proceeds going to charity.
Then to top it all off, the Carisbrook Lions Club 'Christmas with Us', a free lunch at the Maryborough Trotting Complex. For this celebration you must book for catering. Call IGA 5420-3508 or Central Goldfields Information Centre 5460-4511.
To this end, I wish you all a very safe, festive, and special Christmas which you all deserve. Thank you for your amazing support throughout the year, and I look forward to working with you in 2024 of which I believe is going to be a great year for all.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
