Letters to the editor

Kyabram Yarn Bombers had a sad start to the 2024 program with the passing of our dear friend Nola Marke.

Nola was responsible for the Nativity scenes displayed on the balcony of the Albion building.

Her warmth, compassion and skills have been greatly missed during the year.

The year saw an increase in the amount of yarn bombing for Christmas, as can be seen in the displays in Allan St, Kyabram, and the walkways.

Along with the Christmas decorations, group members have been responsible for making crocheted and knitted items for sale, in order to raise money to purchase meat vouchers for those in need, in the lead-up to Christmas.

These vouchers have been given to the Salvation Army and the school chaplain for distribution as they see fit.

I would like to thank those dedicated knitters and crocheters who have continued to work hard all year while enjoying the friendship and care of their fellow crafters.

The group meets at the Senior Citizens Centre every second Thursday commencing at 1pm.

Anyone wishing to join in would be made most welcome.

These gatherings will commence again on Thursday, February 5.

I would like to thank those members of the Kyabram Men’s Shed who have given us considerable help throughout the year.

Thanks also go to the following organisations for their financial assistance this year: Bendigo Bank, Kyabram Club, Credit Union and Campaspe Shire Council.

This support was greatly appreciated, particularly with the extra cost this year of the items that were made and sold to purchase meat vouchers.

Debi Kitt from Boomerang Travel has been a great supporter of our work, providing her shop window for us to display and make sales of charity items. Thank you, Debi.

I wish all yarn bombers a merry and safe Christmas season with family and friends.

Heartfelt thanks

Dr Brad Hodge and Carrie-Anne Winder

Rural Health Innovation Lab, Latrobe University

On behalf of La Trobe University and our first-year nursing students, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Kyabram and the surrounding towns of Rushworth, Rochester, Lockington, Tongala and Stanhope for your incredible support of the Healthy Ky initiative.

Over the course of three weeks, our students conducted over a thousand health screenings.

This experience not only offered our students invaluable, hands-on learning opportunities, such as testing vital signs and engaging in meaningful conversations with patients from diverse backgrounds, but it also provided locals with much-needed additional healthcare services.

We are especially grateful to the Kyabram Community Learning Centre and Kyabram District Health Service, our key partners in this project.

Your efforts in getting Healthy Ky off the ground have been extraordinary.

Hosting us as the first activation at the new Allan St KCLC site, 8 Minutes, was a privilege. We are truly blown away by your generosity and dedication.

Thank you also to all the community houses in Rochester, Rushworth, Lockington, Tongala and Stanhope, as well as a big thanks to Campaspe Shire Council, the Kyabram Fauna Park and all the local businesses who hosted our students.

Your hospitality and willingness to support this initiative have left a lasting impact on our team and the students.

This has been a Christmas gift to both our students and the community, and we are deeply appreciative of everyone who helped make this happen.

Thank you for welcoming us so warmly and for showing what a united and compassionate community can achieve together.

Jubilee of Hope: Rome’s grand restoration unveiled

Bishop Shane Mackinlay,

Diocese of Sandhurst

I was fortunate to spend most of October in Rome as a member of Pope Francis’ Synod for a Synodal Church.

While the streets of Rome are always busy and somewhat chaotic, there was an extra dimension this year.

Everywhere I turned, roads were blocked off, and buildings and monuments were covered with signs that read ‘in restauro’ (‘under restoration’) in preparation for the jubilee year that commences on Christmas Eve.

Every 25 years, we celebrate a jubilee of the birth of Jesus.

The restauro should be finished in time for next year’s jubilee, so that the 40 million pilgrims who are expected in Rome will be able to travel around on a brand-new metro line as they visit the various restored monuments and churches.

Next year’s jubilee has been named the Jubilee Year of Hope.

It’s a simple message, and one that we need at least as much as Rome needs a new metro line and freshly restored buildings.

We are surrounded by so many events that undermine hope.

Wars continue in Ukraine and the Holy Land, and there is terrible suffering for the civilian populations in all these places, with injuries and deaths, homes destroyed, residents displaced and severe shortages of food and medical help.

This suffering is felt around the world, with protests calling for political action, and direct threats to many Jewish communities, including this month’s shameful arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.

In political and social life, there seems to be a growing fragmentation, anger, and distrust, which makes co-operation and constructive action ever more difficult.

We are fortunate that this is less pronounced in Australia than in some parts of the world, but there are concerning signs here too.

So, a Jubilee of Hope is very timely. Even without joining the crowds in Rome, each of us can celebrate.

In our families and communities, we can look for the signs of hope and inspiration around us and take time to celebrate them and show our appreciation.

As we come together in our families and communities this Christmas, alongside the joy and excitement of gathering together, there will be experiences of tension and disappointment, which again invite us to be people who embody hope and love.

Jesus’ message of joy and peace calls us to renew our commitment to ensure that each person we meet is valued and respected, that their voice is heard and that practical actions are taken to respond to the needs around us.

As we strive for that, we take confidence in the faithful love of the God who sent Jesus among us and who promises to continue walking with us as we go forward together on our journey.

As we prepare to begin the Jubilee Year of Hope, I wish each of you and those you love the joy, peace and hope of this Christmas season.