Christmas is my favourite time of the year in Gippsland, but this festive season will be tinged with sadness.
The loss of 15 innocent lives in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack has cast a dark shadow over our nation.
As we gather with loved ones, it’s important to be thankful and count our blessings while remembering those we have lost during the year.
I will be spending as much time as I can with my family and friends. We will share a meal, laugh about the good times we’ve had throughout the year, and also remember our family members who aren’t with us to celebrate the occasion.
In our increasingly busy lives, many of us will have a chance to take a break, probably think about the year that has passed more quickly than expected, and make some plans for the future.
I always like to spare a thought for the essential workers in our health and emergency services, or critical industries, who will be doing shifts over the Christmas period to keep us safe and keep the country functioning. Thank you for your contribution to our region and our nation.
Australia remains the greatest country in the world, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere other than Gippsland.
But that doesn’t mean we are perfect.
The Bondi Beach killings are a stain on our national soul that will never be removed.
All we can do now is join together in love and peace to celebrate our freedoms and commit to the values of mutual respect and tolerance, which can defeat the hatred that led to the killings.
Violence has no place in Australia, and we must stand united and take action to uphold the values of our nation.
We must prove ourselves to be stronger and more resilient than the people who seek to promote hatred in our community.
At this time of reflection and through the act of giving to each other, we can commit ourselves to building a better Australia.
I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year.
– Darren Chester, Federal Member for Gippsland
