The recent siege at Martin Place in Sydney was a shock to our peaceful nation. We live in the "lucky country" and we often take for granted our safety, security and relative wealth compared with war-torn countries.

The current events in Paris have also served to remind us that we live in a very different time. It is regrettable, but we live in a time when warfare and terrorism dominate our news and social media.

In response to the terrorist attacks in France, as many as 1.6 million people joined more than 40 presidents and prime ministers on the streets of Paris in defiance of the threat of terrorist extremism. This resounding show of strength, faith and conviction should inspire us all, as we rationalise this issue in our own minds, and attempt to explain it to our children.

Locally, there are many ways that we can reject terrorism and foster a sense of peace, liberty and safety in our community.

With Australia Day just around the corner, we have the opportunity to celebrate our wonderful country and the diverse nationalities that comprise our community.

We will be welcoming 13 new citizens during a special citizenship ceremony in Hindmarsh Park. We will also mark the day with barbecues in each of our towns and the screening of the classic Australian movie The Castle at Black Beach on the eve of Australia Day.

During the long weekend you can attend the Kiama Show and celebrate the history of our area.

By all means enjoy having a public holiday on Australia Day, but also take the time to celebrate our blessings.

Last year, Kiama Council signed the Refugee Welcome Zone Declaration, which formalised our position on refugees and cultural diversity in the region. We joined more than 87 local government areas nationally that have signed the declaration.

We are committed to making this declaration more than just a piece of paper. A group of locals is planning a series of events for local refugees.

The group, called Kiama Welcomes Refugees, has hosted the first event, a picnic at Coronation Park in Kiama with five refugee families. Each family brought their own traditional foods to share their culture and traditions with the group.

The families are part of a program called SCARF (Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families). This is an unfunded non-government organisation that listens to the Wollongong refugee community and provides services in response to their expressed needs.

The Kiama Welcomes Refugees group is inviting more local residents to participate and help coordinate these events.

The group will hold its next meeting at 5pm on Monday, February 2, at the North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre.

Anyone who wants to join or offer their support is welcome to drop in.

Happy Australia Day.