Oh dear! This cases such dismay.

As Harley loves this special time,

When tulips flower in God's land so fine.

But events are cancelled as the virus we fear,

And people must distance - not standing near.

It's all so sad but the rules are there,

To keep us safe from all despair.

We'll just have ti wait for this year to end,

And plan for the tulips next year to attend.

When the sixtieth Anniversary will go ahead,

Just a year later, so no tears are shed.

Don't be discouraged and start to feel low,

As some tulips this year will be on show.

Just not as many as restrictions are here,

And to all the rules we must adhere.

The Highlands is famed for its Tulip Time,

Next year will be big with tulips sublime.

As we celebrate a delayed sixty years,

With golden tulips and anniversary cheers.

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I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the local businesses and workers who have taken our health safety seriously by implementing mask wearing and social distancing.

For those of us with compromised immune systems or other serious health issues it is a matter of life and death.

To those locals who still refuse to take these simple measures, may I point out that exercising your "freedom" to behave in this way has resulted in many of us being virtually imprisoned in our own homes for the last six months.

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Just a brief comment on the assertions by our state members Nathaniel Smith and Wendy Tuckerman on the current state of Wingecarribee Council (SHN 26/8/2020)

I respect them both as individuals and as our democratically elected state representatives. I do also respect their right to make comment on the functioning of our council and their reciprocal responsibility to be put under the microscope.

I feel disappointed though that they may not have taken the time to get to know the Wingecarribee councillors nor used their discrimination in assessing the so called dysfunction that is dirtying the name of all councillors. Generic statements such as "this council is at risk of dysfunction and must get on with the job or face administration" appears to be a bit too simplistic.

I can assure our state members that the majority of councillors on Wingecarribee Shire Council want nothing more than to get on with the job! I myself have spent 20 years in service to the Wingecarribee community and my only motivation has always been to get on with the job and serve this community to the best of my ability.

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In these years of service, there has always been a small element that has disturbed progress and process and threatened the credibility of council. It is no different now. The element on council that currently seeks to disrupt, self-promote and jeopardise unity and our service to community is minimal. Yet conveniently the whole of council is being tarred with the same brush.

I cannot and will not speak for other councillors, but I would feel that the vast majority would agree with me.

Although I am sincerely saddened by some of the behaviours at council, I do believe the element of dysfunction is small. However, like any disease it is virulent and at times may even be self-serving?

I am thankful that the minister has offered to appoint advisers to show some the error of their ways. I am hopeful that the advisors will take the time to get a full picture of the situation and maybe even inform our state members so they can be better informed before making broad sweeping statements.