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Mayors Christmas Message

Christmas is a time of good will and friendship, and a time to reflect on the past year.

By Bass Coast Shire - 20th December 2005 - Back to News

The previous 12 months have been ones of turbulence and change for the world, and Bass Coast has certainly experienced its share. There is no doubt that 2006 will be an exciting and eventful year for us. I would like to say how proud I am to be Mayor of this great community and what an honour it is to be able to serve the people as part of Council.

The festive season is one of celebration, of family and of goodwill. Many people are travelling for the holidays and as usual, Bass Coast will have an influx of friends and tourists over the summer months. All the excitement of holidays also brings with it greater risks in terms of safety and travel.

I urge everyone to take care on the roads so they arrive safely at their Christmas destinations. And as always, to take care on our beaches, heed the safety notices and swim in the patrolled areas.

From across the globe we hear daily of acts of terrorism, famine, hardship and war. Closer to home, we have all been stunned by the outbreak of violence and racial tension on the streets of Southern Sydney.

There has never been a time when unity, respect and understanding are more important. Australia is a great country and one which has always celebrated the diversity of its people. Here at Bass Coast, the incredibly welcoming and inclusive spirit of our community is something to be very proud of. Being Australian is about celebrating our diversity, not focusing on it as a point of difference and conflict.

Working together we can achieve great things. The way a community looks after each other and cares for those who are worse off, is the true indication of their wealth and success. And while Christmas is a time when we are all reminded of "good will to all men", it is something that is practiced all year round by so many of the fine people of our community. And it’s this, more than our beautiful landscape and stunning beaches, that makes Bass Coast such a special place.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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