Hilltops Council Councillor Rita O'Connor shared a very important message with visitors and residents at the Harden-Murrumburrah Australia Day Celebration on Sunday morning.
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"This year as we celebrate Australia Day we need to think what does Australia really mean to us?" Mrs O'Connor said.
"This year to me, it's having the right attitude as I think of all those Australians who have been living with prolonged drought, those affected by the worst global fires anyone has ever seen, the homes, land and animals that have been destroyed along the way.
"The Australian spirit is a fighting and supportive spirit, similar to when we sent our young men and women to war."
Mrs O'Connor believes that the latest tradgedies that have stuck Australia are not a part of a war fought with guns and tanks.
"Now it's a climate war and again we see the incredible support offered by each other to people in need," she said.
According to Mrs O'Connor Australia is a culturally and religiously diverse country yet everyone has opened their arms to shelter, feed and assistance to those who need it.
"I'd also like to acknowledge the extraordinary effort from our Australian RFS (Rural Fire Service), from the other countries who sent fire fighters, money and other assistance to us and I'd like to stop and remember the three American fire fighters who left their homes happy and healthy to come to Australia to help us and unfortunately lost their lives doing so."
Mrs O'Connor encouraged locals to think about what they can do both by themselves and as a group.
"So on this Australia Day, let us reflect on what we can do individually and collectively to stand untied in this country of privilege and opportunity in which we live," Mrs O'Connor said.
"Happy Australia Day everyone."
