"I wish it need not have happened in my time" said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide.

All we have to decide is WHAT WE DO with the time that is given us"

JRR Tolkien.

As I read this, looking over our beautiful garden, where the birds are blissfully ignorant of "social distancing", I can't help but wonder and have concern for what many of you, as our CfB members must be going through now, not only in business but in your families and personally.

Whilst for some there is thankfully a gifted opportunity, for others there is closure of doors, laying off of staff and the worry that comes with the uncertainty we've only heard from parents and grandparents regarding the second world war.

As I reported, via Skype, to my 102 year old Singaporean Mother in law, my relief that our son had arrived safely back from the US for hotel quarantine, she marveled at the technology that allowed our conversation.

Her Sri Lankan family waited months for her news after the Japanese occupation of Singapore.

I also marvel at the passion, good will and sense of service from many in our community and our members to #sharethecare #bekind and reach out to each other.

Exactly how we continue to do this in the emerging harsh economic realities that evolve in this pandemic will be determined in no short measure on how we "decide what we do with the time that is given us".

It will take humility, creativity, advocacy and a refocus from "what is best for me" to "what is best for us all", as we all pull together to seek the common good, from a virus that knows no boundaries of race, religion, gender, wealth, power, politics or position.

We, as Committee for Ballarat, pride ourselves in being able to imagine a future for Ballarat that benefits all, with our thought leadership and bold vision.

Your input to our leadership has never been more important as we seek to support each other, discover and advocate for creative solutions to the predicament we find ourselves in, so that we can look back, in better times, knowing we rose to the challenge for our businesses, community, and families during the "time that was given to us".

Let's "keep the faith" in ourselves, in each other and our community.

David Deutscher

Chair, Committee for Ballarat

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