We start this year with a renewed sense of hope after gladly leaving 2020 behind.

During the year just past, we were required to stare adversity in the eye. In doing so, we found things about ourselves, our community, our work and our country that have been a pleasant surprise.

Since the pandemic began our community has responded magnificently. As I moved about our area and local schools at the end of last year, I was struck by many stories of innovation and a stubborn determination to thrive in the new conditions.

Despite the disruption in 2020, the NSW Government has continued to deliver for our local area, including:

• The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital’s new Intensive Care Unit and first public hospital’s robotic pharmacy;
• All train stations without lifts from Thornleigh to Hornsby and Hornsby to Chatswood have now been funded to build lift upgrades to support seniors, young families and people with a disability;
• Construction of road improvements have commenced on the Pacific Highway;
• Multi-million dollar building upgrades at Ku-ring-gai High School and Waitara Public School;
• Greatly reduced traffic on Pennant Hills Road after the NorthConnex opened;
• An $860,000 upgrade to facilities at Turramurra Oval; and
• The award of $300,000 in total for 15 local projects under the Community Building Partnership Program

We are fortunate to read encouraging economic data and observe the community learning to live with the ‘new normal.’ It is great to have people carefully socialising again and enjoying themselves.

The challenges of 2020 left many of us weary. I hope you had a well-earned break over the Christmas and New Year period.

I wish you the best for your health, happiness and prosperity in 2021!