Congratulations to Darcy Coppin who has been awarded Stepz 2019 Dancer of the Year. Darcy has received a $250 dance scholarship. The Dancer of the Year award is presented to a hard-working lover of dance who shows leadership, commitment and a passion for dance.

Gorgeous Diane Smith celebrated her birthday yesterday. I hope it was a great day Di!

You are invited to CABBI's 35th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition official opening night on Saturday, December 14, at 6pm at 3-5 Clyde St, Batemans Bay.

First time ever gals, pre Christmas shopping available! Open daily 10am to 4pm, closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

That gorgeous creature Jilly Burton will also be celebrating next Tuesday, no doubt with a fabulous meal made by her partner Omar!

Please think before leaving town to do your Christmas shopping. Now, more than ever the locals need our support. Even a small spend in any of the local shops will help.

Remember Theresa Matthews from The Mogo Lolly Shop who was collecting parcels for Ladies Of The Land NSW? Well, Theresa has given me an update regarding her shoeboxes full of goodies.

With the help of Daniel Backhouse from Braidwood, who came down to Mogo and picked up 600 plus boxes, out of the goodness of his big heart, the boxes finally made their way to Canberra. From Canberra Tony Innaimo Transport took the boxes to Orange. Daniel had only just got through when they closed the Kings Highway.

Meanwhile, Theresa didn't have time to wave the boxes off because she had a fire alert at her home in Bimbimbie. Good job Theresa! Please pop into the lolly shop and buy an all day sucker from this wonderful gal.

Kathy and Andrew Smith of Canberra were happy to get down to their holiday residence in Surf Beach for a break. Longing for the beach with the Kings Highway closed made them appreciate it even more. Thank you again to every person who helped during the recent bushfire crisis. The RFS firefighters are warriors! They make me so proud to be Australian.

Thanks also to the many businesses who provided meals, beds, support, many of them for no reward other than that they returned in kind, with gratitude to the RFS members who headed "in"; when everyone else was heading "out".

On a happier note, Mrs Farrington-Smyth has opened her doors to every firefighter she comes in contact with! This woman is so generous, although I did hear that some of the firefighters had to find a way to escape ... sorry I mean exit when they were on shift!