The Liberal/Independent majority agreed and also financially supported my proposal for an Annual Christmas Lights Competition for 2009. As part of the budget for the next five years, Parramatta anticipates leveraging the latent community support and hopefully unleash the pride for and celebration of Christmas through friendly competition across the neighbourhoods.

For some years now, numerous families across Australia have been displaying their own Christmas decorations on their front lawns for the public enjoyment of passers-by. So much so that this adds extra excitement to the season as creative and spiritual displays of Christmas are shown.

Australia is without doubt the best nation on the planet, that we can find humour in the open exchange of thoughts and ideas, without fear or persecution.

I thought I would share one from one of those anonymous e-mail received last week.

Yes. I am a climate change sceptic. When The Australian recently announced that the Antarctic ice was growing and not shrinking, it reinforced my doubt that the environmental lobby was not entirely accurate. Having said that, it has always been in our long term self interest to ensure that we have a planet earth that is viable and liveable.

Let’s be honest. No one likes using parking meters. Metal machines that take your money for the temporary use of what was once free public space on our public roads. And when Parramatta introduced parking meters, it opened up a Pandora’s Box of new problems like being addicted to the money it generates, and consequently pushing many customers away from Parramatta to other neighbouring shops and businesses that have free parking.