Highlights were the drives in the car at night to look at the lights leading up to Christmas.

We would often be in hysterics when she opened the windows with her paws. Those special paws left a print on our hearts.

Of course, there was the football every Saturday. She loved to run around the ground. The players loved her, winning their hearts also.

With this ball of fluff came attitude. When dinner was delayed she would stomp her feet.

A standard order at the fish and chip shop for Holly was a nice beef burger (thank you very much).

She loved her daily walks; touching souls in the neighbourhood.

Holly, you lay next to me at night with those big brown eyes, treasured moments, and I would reaffirm that you were the best girl in the world.

Birthdays were also made special with a small cup cake to celebrate - 23 years of birthdays, in fact, and one of the oldest dogs in Bendigo - equal to 161 in human years!

Well, what a beautiful world it would be if all people had hearts like dogs. She only knew love.

Many thanks to Sue and all the staff at McIvor Rd Vets for their kindness and utmost care for Holly and a special mention to Chris and Neil of Pet Cremations Eaglehawk.

Holly, see you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Is the City of Greater Bendigo and the wider central region of Victoria ready for the decentralisation explosion being proposed by Regional Development Victoria?

There is an attempt at puffed-up rhetorical claims that we are “Ready when you are” designed to attract people to move to regional Victoria. Ready or not.

Our mayor makes statements “that Melbourne is forecast to reach eight million by 2050, but the rat race is not for everyone”.

This is an invitation to come to our fair city and central Victoria and create another rat race in Bendigo.

Our council and state government has enough problems plaguing them at present – not being able to cater for 100,000 now, let alone 200,000 people in Bendigo the mayor talks about.

Poor transport options, poor parking: poor footpath construction, poor lighting or no lighting in some streets, poor maintenance of our Bendigo Creek infrastructure, poor drainage of feeder creeks to the larger Bendigo Creek, problems associated with garbage and the landfill in Bendigo, water and energy and aged care in Bendigo, problems dealing with regional issues which bring into question, the practical concerns and different needs of the city from the region.

There is an urgent need or requirement to evaluate all the needs of our own city and interpreting the purpose of the council and what it serves, or should serve.

What are the real benefits of an increasing population and where are these high-end employment opportunities the mayor talks about to be created?

What became of the council’s and politicians’ “thought-bubble” to create a local urban rail network to our out-lying suburbs using the existing rail network and additional stations to stop the use of cars and the traffic problems?

Parroting 200,000 people, offering a nightmare, then saying “We are ready” is not good enough, it could destroy Bendigo.

Did Malcolm Turnbull pose with the soldiers to project a macho image, or to remind Tony Abbott that he is no longer PM?