During my 16 years here in the Highlands I've spent many a happy hour browsing through its bookshelves, DVD and CD collections, whimsical cards and gifts, as well as Tony Sheffield's retail showroom at the rear.

How often have I walked out of the Brown Bookshop door with some tantalising art purchase, some treat to read, watch or listen to!

Then I'd often walk into our other wonderful bookshop, The Bookshop Bowral next door to Brown Bookshop, and do the same thing.

How lucky are we, I'd think, to have two fabulous literary joints cheek by jowl, right here in Bowral!

But things change, maybe shop rents go up, or proprietors need to retire, and so we lose a treasure, all of us a little poorer for it.

We wish Brown Bookshop owner, Lorraine, the very best for the future, and thank her for 20 years of a cultural gem.

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Orange, yellow and scarlet tongues of flame,

Destruction is your evil game,

When allowed to go unchecked,

In your fiery mantle decked.

Making of nature's majesty,

A charred and tragic travesty,

The further you travel, hour by hour,

More fierce becomes your roaring power.

Crashing through township, mountain and plain,

Just a fleeting pause, then on again.

You have no respect for man or beast,

Aglow with disdain, to say the least.

We salute our heroes who challenge your will,

Though so weary, they fight on still,

Regardless of your awesome threat,

Their resolve is firmly set.

Despite charred land and blackened trees,

You won't bring them to their knees,

No matter the harm you mean to do,

The Aussie spirit will shine through.

With the inhuman effort the firefighters have made even heroes seems to be an understatement.

Every man and woman fighting these fires should receive the highest honour possible.