The world has endured chaos,
Lives shattered, homes destroyed.
The year 2020 leaves its mark,
Of division and hope deferred.
Within our own community,
Loss seeped into people’s lives.
Lifestyle, economy, heartache,
Even invasion of faith’s core.
From all that cast shadows,
Of fallen dreams, shattered plans,
Rise up from the ashes,
With strength for the year ahead.
We are community,
No matter how far we roam.
The meeting of yesterday and tomorrow,
Echoes the call ‘Canowindra means home’.
Change is not easy,
Loss wears many masks,
But light reigns over darkness,
Through adversity we rise up.
As the year draws to a close,
A new one will begin.
New plans, new dreams,
New starts in all we hold dear.
Reflecting back can be difficult,
So too can it build us up,
To be more than our yesterdays,
And stronger as future unfolds.
Hope grew our heritage,
Evident in Canowindra’s name.
No matter in all that changes,
In my heart this town, the people do mean home.
Those who have gone before us,
I say thank you for setting the stage.
We will continue this legacy,
And love will always reign.
By Deborah Rutter