Georgia Kavanagh got in touch with me some months back saying she was interested in a career in journalism and keen to see behind the scenes at her local newspaper.

The 15-year-old, who also works at Coles Supermarket, dropped in the paperwork herself and then turned up for work, on time, dressed appropriately and enthusiastically took on a project to promote five other work experience students from Daylesford Secondary College.

Along with her own well-written yarns, Georgia also answered phones, picked up our papers from the newsagency, collected the mail and helped track down people for our vox pop.

On Friday, when she was finished, I asked if she wanted to leave early at 3.30pm.

"No thanks," she said. "What else can I do to help?"

Anyway, next time I am about to bemoan the youth of today, I will remember Georgia and her interviewees.

They all come across as keen, smart young people interested in finding out what the world has to offer.

I reckon our future's safe.

TALKING about optimism, the shire is putting an interesting spin on the latest Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey.

We've come last over the past five years and, despite being again placed among the lowest ranked councils throughout Victoria, the council says performance is on the rise.

Mmmm.

The survey of 350 respondents found that the council was significantly lower than the mean score for small rural shires in 12 of 13 areas and in nine of 13 areas for the total 78 municipalities.

Sometimes I wonder if the council knows which way is up.

FINALLY, while the State Government is handing out money for bushfire memorials it seems many people can't quite see the point.

After all, while the Musk Vale fires were devastating no one died and only one home was lost.

The shire is busy having a good hard think about what shape the memorial should take, but I reckon a practical memorial, like a 4WD slip-on for Leonards Hill CFA, would be a great idea.

Mayor Bill McClenaghan agreed with me when I mentioned it to him last week - so hopefully, watch this space.