Well, we have reached the season of ageing parents and the do's and dont's of how to ride the wave of independent parents, holding on by their fingernails to stay in the family home.

Our father recently had a fall and heart attack which resulted in two months in Orange Base, Rehab and Cowra hospitals.

Over the weeks, many in the Cowra community made the trip to Orange to visit, do his washing, take him to Communion and care for him. So Gracious!

We as a family travelled and made sure there was always someone present each week.

This resulted in family discussions about what was our next move and where would be best for Dad - for his care and for us to monitor his health and wellbeing.

I discussed it with a girlfriend who is a Doctor and who has many elderly patients.

Her advice was that in her experience they were far better to be with family, rather than friends, as friends will visit for a short time but family, are there for the long haul.

So much so, she had advised one patient to leave Australia and move to America to be with her daughter.

But this is not the case with Cowra!

This is a very different story, one of community, faith, friendship, loyalty and heritage.

After spending time here with Dad after his release from hospital, I am overwhelmed, by the outpouring of love, kindness, support and kindred spirit, from this wonderful strong community that he has called home for the past 83 years. This could never be replaced by family, even though it might be more convenient for us.

So, while health permits, Cowra is the best place for Dad to call home.

We will continue to travel the miles to visit our Dad and be eternally thankful to the Cowra community, for its wonderful blessings of friendship and heritage.

Cowra, you are to be congratulated for the compassionate community you have created, where friends ARE FAMILY!

Thanking you from our hearts

Chrissy Patrick (nee Langfield) on behalf of the Langfield family,

The Summit, Port Macquarie

To Whom It May concern

What amazes me the most is the way our country has been reduced in the way of neglect.

By the people that were supposed to make sure that the next generation had something left that they could carry on with.

However like credit card holding immature teenagers, people have spent way beyond their means, which also includes politicians.

That has sent Australia down into the dregs not much short of poverty.

With a manufacturing industry that was idolised by other nations now is a thing of the past or in history books.

then there is the present situation where a number of imported foods are making people sick because of being contaminated.

Not to mention the farmers who depended on the industralist for the processing of their produce so to make a profit.

but these days many have a hard enough time paying off their expenses just to keep their farms from being sold.

Simply because imported produce have been promoted as being far better than our Australian owned and grown produce.

Plus too many politicians in the past thought the only way to conserve funds, were to close down government institutions in the way of schools, hospitals, goals, police stations, railways etc.

With all these problems and many more all I hear is wouldn't it be great if Cowra could have a Firework display on New Years Eve night.

I think before we start behaving like the grasshopper in the story where the ants had to save his life as he enjoyed himself all year partying.

While the ants accumulated enough food to get them through the winter months.

Or is this the Australian mentality today that we suffer from ":A champagne brain and a beer pocket"?

That we spend money that we don't have just so to make out to the rest of the world that we're not as bad off as we really are.

Yes fireworks are great when the conditions are right, but when people ignore the more important issues like having enough money just to purchase the necessities that your family needs to get through each week.

Not to mention the repairs and improvements to the family home.

Also a few years ago there was a 24 hour fire danger around NSW and yet Sydney still went ahead with their New Years Eve fireworks.

I don't think people realise the cost of these displays, which can go into millions of dollars not to mention the expense of the massive clean up afterwards.

Plus who are supposed to finance these fireworks in Cowra, the ratepayer?

Even if a local business identity comes forward to sponsor the event what safety precautions are going to be put into place simply because as we all know at this time of year it doesn't take much to start a fire.

That not only endangers people's lives but also can destroy a person's livelihood and their property.

I would rather see the money that is put towards fireworks which will only be a memory, put to better use.

Like another amenities block in the CBD area or some other community project that will serve the people of Cowra everyday not just for 10 to 15 minutes.

Yours sincerely

Stephen R Snow

Lachlan Street

Cowra

Dear Sir, I would like to say once again I am proud of my grandchildren

Jai - proud of you having a go; when one doors closes, another one will open

Kiesha - went to Sydney to dance at the School Spectacular

Kira - in 2014, she received a Gold award at Mulyan Public School

Jayden - we had just come into 2015 and he was chosen to by his class to be class representative for the year, with the SRC at Mulyan and he can't wait for footy to start.

Also, I would like to say I am proud of my little sister Alison, now working permanently at Royce's. The cakes are yummy!

Tammy Bamblett,

Taragala St,

Cowra.