CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM MEMBER FOR BENALLA BILL SYKES

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.

In the hustle and bustle of shopping and partying in the lead up to Christmas it is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ and of course the enjoyment of Santa Claus and the gifts which he brings.

For me, Christmas is also a time to enjoy and appreciate my family, friends and community. It is their love and support which helps me get through tough times, and likewise, I try to be there for my family, friends and community when the going gets tough.

No doubt, many people have experienced tough times and sadness during the year, but also hopefully, people have enjoyed their share of success and good times.

The most significant event this year for me was fighting the State Government’s proposal to locate a toxic dump at Violet Town/Baddaginnie.

The community’s effort to successfully resist this threat was a credit to many people and I was pleased to have been able to play my part.

It was also very rewarding to finally win the battle for air conditioning for our schools, particularly in the Ovens and Kiewa Valleys. This battle had been waged over many years and again it is a credit to the persistence and dedication of many people.

I have also had great satisfaction from the success of our Computer to Communities Project; the enthusiastic receipt of our recently launched Funding Booklet and the presentation of the “You’ve Got What It Takes – “Weary” Dunlop Awards to students who have demonstrated persistence and resilience to overcome challenges and achieve either academically, socially, on the sporting arena or in another field of endeavour.

I am looking forward to 2005; we still have plenty of challenges ahead including support for families of those who have lost their jobs at Carter Holt Harvey in Myrtleford; winning a better deal for kindergarten teachers and our disabled, particularly assisting to extend the work of the Mansfield Autistic Centre and MACCRO; the on going battle to get the Government to see common sense and relocate the proposed Aboriginal Offenders Centre away from Mt Tenneriffe, the flawed decommissioning of Lake Mokoan . . the list goes on!

In closing, I would like to thank you all for your support and I look forward to working with people of the wonderful Benalla Electorate to make it an even better place to live and raise our children.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989