Friendship in the Festive Season

The fairy lights are up and the Christmas trees are being decorated because the Festive Season is just around the corner.

Last year we had an amazing 416 gifts left under our Christmas tree and this year Mosman will direct our Christmas Gift Appeal to Barnardos. It would be a wonderfully generous gesture by our community to either match or better the result for Australian children who are living in challenging and difficult family situations. While all gifts are most welcome, donations for teens aged 13 and over would be greatly appreciated. Please leave your new, unwrapped donations under the tree in the foyer of Mosman Civic Centre from 1 December until 14 December.

Turning to the many events I have attended over the past month, two deserve special mention – the solemn and contemplative Remembrance Day Commemorative Service on 11 November at the Mosman Cenotaph and a visit last week by a delegation from our Friendship City, Mudanjiang, China. As part of our relationship, Mosman Council and community members have supported more than 1,000 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds through the Girl Child Education Project. Mosman Rotary has also made a significant contribution over the years, which assists with educational expenses, such as school books and uniforms.

On a final and very positive note Mosman Council’s Annual Report 2016/2017 is available for perusal in both the Civic Centre Foyer and the Barry O’Keefe Library. The recent first quarter budget review for 2017/18 indicates Council is tracking above our projected surplus.

This will be my last Mayoral Column for 2017 so I take this opportunity to wish each and every resident a happy and healthy 2018.