Children whoop and holler their excitement. Families organise gatherings.

Casual conversations spin around plans for traditional turkey, glazed ham and plum pudding or a relaxed seafood extravaganza or how to make a nut and seed loaf alternative accompanied by salads that make one salivate.

How wonderful that between the flurry of a bumper season’s multitude of jobs, and the drying winds of high summer with its feared fires, we can take time, indeed, stop time, to celebrate the birth so many years ago of a baby whose message of loving kindness revolutionised the lives of our forebearers and continues to strongly impact those with hearts to listen.

At the wellspring of my being is the delight that the celebration of a child’s birth for centuries has stopped the spin of politicians, the industry of businessmen and women, the labour of workers, the research of scientists and academics.

As in the past, so it seems today that all of us are in overdrive completing tasks so that we can stop, if just for one minute, one hour, one day!

Yes, stop and in that short space of time and place, blithely wish each other all the best.

2016 saw the successful resolution of the rural zone LEP with legislation of a 40 ha minimum with averaging and dual occupancy for all rural land in the Yass Valley.

In effect, all those with rural land assets have doubled the value of their assets which in turn will make our shire, our town and villages more prosperous.

Further in 2016, the duplication of the Barton Highway hit the national agenda. We no longer have to argue for a duplicated highway between Canberra and Yass. Instead, we need to push for duplication in a reasonable time frame.

SELX is another cause to celebrate with its huge yardings and multitude of jobs, adding to the prosperity of our communities.

Season’s greetings to you all and may your 2017 bring renewed hope, achievements galore and prosperity.