The hustle and bustle, the crowds, the hot nights, the special offers for just about everything … it must be Christmas again!

I know it's difficult in these few frenetic weeks to get everything done, but it is worth taking a few deep breaths and slowing down a little whenever we can.

This gives us a chance to think about our lives and, in most cases, how fortunate we are.

In Gippsland, our year started badly with the massive bushfires around the region, but the seasons at least have improved, with some reasonable rains in recent months.
The human spirit of Gippslanders, as always, shone through during the tough times and I was impressed by the way everyone jumped in to help in times of crisis.

In particular, I want to wish our young people all the best in 2004. I have attended many awards presentations as the school year ends and always feel a real pride in what students have achieved and what they will achieve in the years to come.
I would say to these young people - and indeed, all residents of Gippsland - let's think about what we can do in the next 12 months.

There are always plenty of people who will tell us what cannot be done; very few tell us the heights to which we can soar.

Over this Christmas break, I urge you to reflect about what we have and think about what we can do to make it better.

Enjoy your time with family and friends and please take care, especially on our roads.