As All Seasons owner Jeanine Hedley says in today's paper, Christmas is for everyone to celebrate 'not just for the people who can afford it'.

The event started several years ago, when the Christian organisation Epicentre Bendigo staged a beautiful community lunch to ensure those who would be alone or in need on Christmas day would not be isolated.

The day is about ensuring there is no one alone at Christmas - an occasion which is well documented to be one of great despair for many.

When Epicentre could no longer continue, several Bendigo agencies and indeed this community pulled together at the last minute to keep the tradition alive.

But when the city made the decision last year to host the event two days before Christmas with the view to encouraging more businesses to get involved, it was a curious move. 

It is fantastic the true meaning of the lunch and Christmas has been recognised. 

Recent works in the Sacred Heart Cathedral precinct have opened a beautiful space for locals and visitors to admire our stunning architectural asset.

Yesterday's unveiling of the Saint Mary MacKillip statue has further added to the beauty of that space, and was the first stage of an exciting chapter for the cathedral parish. Indeed, for all of Bendigo.

The cathedral draws thousands of visitors to our city each year, and with pilgrimage tourism growing globally, there is no doubt the plans for the Aspire project will continue to reap benefits for out city.

Nicole Ferrie, deputy editor