Before you attack me on that one, have a glance at your own personal scoreboard over the last week, let alone the 'climocracy' that flew their private jets to Glasgow.

How many human beings are willing to sacrifice their current existence and revert to a hunter/gatherer/ cropping lifestyle, fully off the grid?

Question yourself, could you do it? Do you have the ability and skill to survive this way because it's the only way to avoid catastrophic climate change if you don't want mining?

No matter how hard you try to live in modern society, every action you take in your daily life is detracting from the quality of life for someone else whose land and rivers and rainforest is regularly raped and destroyed in the quest for energy.

Be it fossil fuels or renewables, people suffer the degradation of their land; their home clean energy simply doesn't exist.

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Congratulations to Ellen Saunders who has been deservedly awarded a Life Membership to Nelson Bay Women's Bowling Club [NBBC].

Ellen joined the Ladies Bowls in 1994 soon after arriving in the Bay from Gladesville. For the past 27 years Ellen has devoted her time as an active member both on and off the green. Ellen's resume of numerous bowling achievements include winning several club championships. Ellen has been a stalwart to the Nelson Bay Women's Bowling Club for her attitude and demeanour to all members and in particular mentoring new bowlers. From all the members of the Nelson Bay Women's Bowls Club we thank Ellen and congratulate her on all her achievements and ongoing dedication and support.

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Why is Christmas so important? What separates Christmas from other national celebrations?

One might argue that Christmas is so important because of its Christian origins - the birth of Jesus, representative of a hope that came into the world over 2000 years ago.

As a minister in The Salvation Army, I would certainly agree with this answer. The fact that Christmas offers an opportunity for much of the world to stop and celebrate with one another.

Families reuniting and connecting over a meal; those without a local family joining friends on Christmas Day; even those most lonely and isolated in our community reaching out to organisations like The Salvation Army, which offer a place of community and belonging all year round, but even more so at Christmas.

It seems like Christmas this year could be more important than ever for one simple reason: People.

Much of the country has been isolated for most or part of the year, separated from friends, family and colleagues.

This Christmas, I'd encourage you to check in on your friends, your work colleagues and neighbours, to simply connect once again as a community. The Salvation Army counts it a privilege to serve those within Australia who are doing it tough.

To give a family a special Christmas hamper, or to allow parents the dignity to choose presents for their kids, is the reason why we do what we do.

The Salvos have been operating in Australia for over 140 years, and we currently have over 2000 services in over 400 centres across Australia, and we are just as passionate about Aussies in need today as we were those many years ago when we first commenced our services in Australia.

If you need support this Christmas, please reach out to your local Salvos.

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