On Saturday night, John and Joy Lord hosted a barbecue so that old friends could catch up with the extended Smith family, before Marcia's birthday was celebrated the next day at South Durras with all her family around her.

Irene and Brian Benny celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on Australia Day and were out dining with friends at one of our local clubs.

Ann Stabler was also having another birthday on the same day and joined the Bennys to have a joint celebration.

What a wonderful, compassionate Local Member we have in Andrew Constance. Right from the beginning of this dreadful fire season, Andrew was out and about among his constituents at the Evacuation Centres, talking to people and listening to their stories and offering good advice.

We have seen him on television, almost in tears, talking about his neighbours losing their properties, and how he is trying to get through all the "red tape", and putting pressure on the big charities, so that people who have suffered great losses will get some financial assistance, sooner rather than later.

Andrew and his wife Jenny were also attending the Australia Day at Corrigans Beach on Sunday, enjoying the casual atmosphere. Good work, Andrew. Keep it up, but also be kind to yourself!

Brian and Joan Cassidy of Surf Beach enjoyed a lovely trip to Tasmania over Christmas to visit Brian's family, and were planning on a road trip to South Australia on their return on the ferry.

However, with the fires creating havoc back here, they decided to cancel the second half of their holiday and returned home to the Bay as soon as they could.

Your regular Gossip Gal, Dawn Simpson, has just returned from a trip to London, where she entertained the locals and her Facebook friends with lots of photos of her comings and goings.

On her way home, she flew via Houston, Texas and I do believe she was seen in a wheelchair at the airport. Welcome home Dawn!

The road to success is always under construction.