In The Firing Line: Giving credit where it’s due

There are plenty of things that make me sulky, but every now and then it’s important to put the grumbles aside and give credit where it’s due.

This week, I’m taking my hat off to the people who make the South Coast tick.

Where would we be without Tidy Towns? Honestly, I don’t even want to imagine it. They quietly get on with the job, cleaning our beaches, picking up litter, planting, painting and making our suburbs places we can be proud of. They don’t do it for applause or recognition – they do it because they genuinely care.

Then there are the countless community groups, conservancies and volunteers who give up their own time to protect and improve our little slice of paradise. Whether it’s clearing alien vegetation, rescuing wildlife, cleaning rivers or simply rolling up their sleeves when something needs doing, they remind us that a community is only as strong as the people willing to pitch in.

Last Wednesday’s fire in Sea Park was yet another reminder of how quickly people on the South Coast rally together when it matters most.

Within minutes, private security companies, Lazer 911 and Mi7 were on the scene, helping residents and supporting emergency services.

Lazer 911 even waited for the fire department and guided firefighters directly to where the blaze had started.

It’s easy to complain when things go wrong. Believe me, nobody knows that better than Sulky Sue.

But it’s just as important to acknowledge the people who step up when things go right. The people who don’t ask, Whose job is this? but rather, How can I help?

The South Coast certainly has its challenges, but it also has something incredibly special – people who care.

And that, in my book, deserves a standing ovation.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram