It's incredibly hard to feel happy when all you see are images of houses burning, roads being closed and people in absolute despair.

Of course many of us have friends and relatives caught up in the fire zones and unable to return home because the roads are blocked or they can't access fuel.

Others still while not directly impacted by the fires, are finding the poor air quality difficult to deal with and the declining state of their gardens a depressing sight.

Of course even closer to home this year came news that two people had died in local waterways.

The sad loss of young Harry Greenhalgh has the community reeling, as his family face a future without their beloved son.

This week's tragic news that a man in his 20s died while swimming in Lake Canobolas has also sent shock waves around the region.

As the year stretches before us maybe it's time to reflect on the joys we have in our lives and spare a thought and kind word or gesture if we can for those who are doing it tough.