USE HOLIDAY BREAK TO MEND FENCES AND TRY TO RECONNECT

I LOVE when people use their end-of-year newspaper column to reflect on yet another frenzied year in the news. It’s almost too easy to focus on the winners and losers in politics, but I wanted to do something a little different.

My thoughts are with anyone who lost someone special this year. That hole in your heart will never be filled and it’s your job to live their life they can’t.

I send all my love to the families who welcomed someone new into the family. Being a parent is hard, but the best thing you will ever do. Take this summer to enjoy their little smiles and making memories that will serve as the times they will look fondly back on. A special shout out to the grandparents who are enjoying kids for the second time around. Your love is special.

Thank you to everyone who served our communities in the emergency services, both paid and volunteer. You run towards danger when most people would run away. You are the best of our communities and we never take you for granted.

Let’s all take time to thank the men and women of the ADF who fight for freedom around the world and do so much to protect it here at home.

Well done to anyone who made it through the year risking it all in small business. It’s always a hard slog, but there’s no better feeling than knowing you held your head above water, and even if you didn’t, good on you for giving it a red hot go.

Thank you to everyone who helps fill in the gaps and takes care of the people who really need it. The at-home carers, the counsellors, the community volunteers and anyone who lends a hand.

And thank you to everyone who takes time to care about where our country is heading. Thank you for being part of a community group and talking about big ideas at family BBQs.

The best resistance to people taking advantage of us is to push back when we see fit, to fight for common sense and to remind the powerful we will always get the final say.

Finally, can I recommend you use the coming weeks to mend a few fences in your personal life. Bury a grudge, tell an old mate you love them and take some time to have a good long talk to the oldest member of the family.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you in these pages again in 2019.