I love this time of year in Douglas… not really because the tourist numbers are thinning and there’s also more chance of grabbing a selfie with a footy player from down south on holidays after being bundled out of the finals.

The Crocs recruiting team are too busy at present with their eyes on a flag to take full advantage of that, but I’ve got you covered boys. I hear there’s some Sydney blokes on the lookout for a new club!

I love it because I get to see more local faces out and about… including some of the 225 Dougie Shire Council mobs.

And I am reminded of the awesome Aussies we have here in the Douglas Shire, and the great work the council crew do.

I’m even prompted at times to fire up the old computer and jump on the council’s web page to nominate some of our great community members for an Australia Day Award.

Singing the praises of a local legend…. other than myself…. is so rewarding.

Damn, some of those hard working council workers deserve a nomination themselves.

They so often don’t get enough recognition for what they do.

And we know they do a lot… our ever-rising rates determine what they must do.

My only problem when it comes to nominating a council worker for their efforts in keeping the Port roundabouts neat and tidy; clearing drains in Mossman and keeping the streets clear of pesky boat trailers is that I don’t know their names.

They never seem to get their name in the papers.

Not even those people in council who do that great work keeping an eye on the spending or doing the big plans for Douglas Shire’s future seem to get a mention.

What’s going on Newsport? I reckon the annual reports that keep telling me there’s over 200 people on the Douglas Shire Council staff have got it wrong…. I’d ask whoever put those fabulous glossy documents together to check it out but you guys never write their name.