But while pouring through cookbooks for the perfect turkey recipe or decorating the tree with baubles and tinsel, spare a thought for the hundreds of people in our community for whom a happy Christmas is not a given.

We live in a beautiful area and most of us are surrounded by loving family and friends.

Most of us can expect a lovely Christmas day full of good food, good wine and good cheer.

But that is not the case for everybody.

For as many multi-million dollar canal homes we have in Mandurah, there are just as many – if not more – homes filled with people doing it tough.

And when you don’t have a cent to your name, Christmas can seem like a cruel joke.

Fortunately Mandurah has a number of organisations and groups dedicated to helping the needy.

Whether it is the Peel Soup Kitchen, the Salvation Army, WestAus Crisis Care or any number of charitable church and community groups, we can all make a difference this Christmas and lend a hand so others can experience the true joy and meaning of the festive season.

It is such a small thing to buy an extra can of food and place it in the local Foodbank’s bins outside the major shopping centres, and a small amount of money could bring a huge smile to the face of a child unwrapping a gift they may never have received.

Christmas time should be merry for everyone, not just those of us who can afford it.

So in the lead-up to the holiday season this year, dig deep and share the joy around.

After all, isn’t that what Christmas is all about?