It is a truly wonderful event, with more than 100 people attending the luncheon.

The dining room is filled with people talking, laughing, sharing parts of their lives, making connections and friendships.

The event is only possible because of the vision and generosity of the Horsham Uniting Church and because of the various businesses and groups that support the day through donations of money, produce, decorations and practical assistance (such as roasting the potatoes).

Special thanks must be made to our wonderful team of volunteers. These are people that help transport guests to and from the luncheon, decorate the dining room, prepare and serve the food and mingle and chat and laugh with people in the room.

Christmas means different things to each of us but everyone involved in the day is affected by feelings of goodwill, fellowship and a sense of being part of something bigger than any individual.

On behalf of the guests who shared the luncheon, thank you to everyone who contributed to the day in some way.

Your support means much more than you realise.

MANDY KIRSOPP

Co-ordinator, Eat Alone Luncheon

WHY don’t they just ban camp fires in parks and reserves from November to say March.

If you light a fire during that time, you receive a large fine.

CHRIS ADAMS

Wartook

I AM an Adelaide-based researcher, currently documenting the history of sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in Victoria.

I would welcome hearing from readers who may have had a personal UFO sighting, past or current, or know of such reports from the Wimmera.

I currently publish my research on a blog at http://ufos-scientificresearch.blogspot.com

For a list of Australian sightings, which may contain some from the Wimmera, please take a look at http://project1947.com/kbcat/kbmoreintoz.htm

I can be contacted by email at keithbasterfield@yahoo.com.au

KEITH BASTERFIELD

Adelaide

WITH many Australian’s declaring their new year’s resolutions at midnight each year, the sad reality is that most won’t keep them after January 1, once the party’s died and the confetti is gone.

To help motivate Aussies to keep their goals for the year ahead, Promise or Pay is declaring Monday, January 11 Promise or Pay Day – a chance for Aussies to keep their new year’s resolutions or pay – to charity that is.

Promise or Pay Day is all about Aussies cheering on a friend or colleague to create a promise online and share through social media.

If the promise is broken, the user donates to one of the many fantastic charities partnered with the website.

If the promise is kept, the user’s family and friends donate.

Research shows that your chance of achieving a goal increases by 33 per cent if you shared it with others and by 72 per cent if money is involved. 

Promise or Pay combines these two approaches to help you keep your promise by making it public and holding you accountable. For more information people can visit www.promiseorpay.com

JAY BOOKLIN

Creator, Promise or Pay