Scams are dangerous because they’re designed to look genuine. My wife has an aunt in England who has fallen victim to several scams, and we’ve witnessed firsthand their costly and distressing impact. An email looks like it came from the bank. A caller sounds convincing. A message warns of a...

One of the things I’ve appreciated since arriving in Shoalhaven Heads is the generosity of people in our community. Whether it’s clubs, volunteer groups or neighbours helping neighbours, generosity is alive and well. But what makes someone truly generous? I recently heard the story of a husband who arrived home...

It’s State of Origin time, and if you’re from New South Wales, you may be desperately hoping to avoid the annual torture often inflicted by those north of the border. Queensland has a knack for upsetting the odds and proving victorious, despite regularly fielding teams that many experts consider less...

Brian Clough was a successful manager of the English soccer club Nottingham Forest in the 1970’s and 80’s. Before awareness of the dangers of head injury arose, a humorous incident occurred when one of Clough’s players became severely concussed. The trainer reporting to Clough said ‘you’ll have to take him...

Driving south from Gerroa I’m really taken by the trees which line either side of the road. This has got me thinking about the different ways trees feature in the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon once had a dream of a very large tree which the prophet Daniel explained was...

Christmas is over for another year. No doubt many of us gathered with families during this time. Family events can be happy occasions, but for some they can be filled with tension. Times together can put us on edge, making us careful in what we say, and relieved when the...