This time of year can get so busy trying to get through the to-do list, plan holidays and prepare for festivities with friends and family, that we can sometimes forget to stop and take stock. This year, our team decided to take some time and reflect on what the holiday season means to us.
hello
Kristi Conacher, Executive Director
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
I will be heading off to Sri Lanka for 10 days for a family holiday.
Why are you looking forward to it? or Why is it important to you?
I am beyond excited as this will be the first Christmas I will spend with my brother, his wife and my mum in 7 years! My brother lives in London and he usually goes to Scotland for Christmas and I am often away in Bali at this time.
Mark Nagle, Executive Director
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
Things are fairly quiet for me this Christmas, my youngest son is living the dream in Europe for six weeks. I’ll be celebrating with my partner Tarnya and her lovely family which includes her two nieces. It’s always great to have some little ones around, it’s a reminder of my own magical childhood Christmases.
Why are you looking forward to it? or Why is it important to you?
It’s been a tough year for me one way and another so I’m looking forward to the rest and relaxation and more than anything I’m determined to enjoy the moment, it’s all too easy to forget what a wonderful time of year Christmas can be. It’s important to me because sometimes you need to take a moment and be aware of how fortunate you are in life.
Danielle Horton, Operations Manager
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
Christmas this year will be spent with my family and my husband’s family all on the one day. Needless to say, our tummies will be full and a mid-afternoon nap will definitely be on the cards! We will also catch up with friends for our annual ‘Orphan’s Christmas’ lunch where we play a gift game called Yankee Swap which is always hilarious as you never know what kind of gift you will end up with.
Why are you looking forward to it? or Why is it important to you?
I am looking forward to this Christmas because it will be my niece Amelie’s first Christmas, although being 7 months old she probably won’t understand too much of the festivities. Kids really make Christmas magical and bring everyone together. Family is my number one priority and it is so lovely to spend time all together celebrating Christmas.
Claire Stewart, Client Services Manager
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
I’m driving down to country Victoria with my new puppy to spend the holiday season with my parents, sisters and baby nephew.
Why are you looking forward to it?
I am looking forward to spending quality time with my family as it’s not often that we are all home together. I can’t wait for my friends and family to meet the new addition to my family too!
Ray Jaramis, Financial Life Manager
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
This year is all about enjoying a staycation. It is amazing how great it is being a tourist in your own city –especially if the city is Sydney in the summer!
Why are you looking forward to it?
During the holidays, I like the idea of waking up in the morning with no real plan on what the day might hold. I have a habit of buying books throughout the year and it’d be great to finally open one of them! My family have a retail business which means their weekends are taken up with work and it can be really tricky to spend time together. Christmas gives us all an opportunity to switch off and eat too much together.
Adam Drinkwater, Financial Life Manager
What are you doing to celebrate the holiday season?
This year I’ll be flying back to England to enjoy the holiday season with my parents, 2 sisters & their partners, 2 nephews and 1 niece! I’ll also be making a quick trip to Hamburg in Germany to celebrate New Year.
Why are you looking forward to it?
I am particularly excited for this trip as I’ve never met one nephew and only briefly met my niece! It’s always special to spend time with my family given we only usually see each other once a year. New Year in Hamburg with old friends should also be great fun! Despite living on the other side of the world, family is the most important thing to me and I really value quality time together over such a special time of year. It’s also a great opportunity to take a break from my day to day life and unwind so that I’m fresh for the new year ahead!
Marion and I hope you all have a great time away doing your Family things
it is a important thing to spend time with family – as we never know what is around the corner
so have a good Christmas a Great New Year looking forward to 2017
Love to you all Marion & Bruce XXXXX