The response to our first issue has been most gratifying. The number of people reading the magazine has surpassed our initial predictions. Thank you to all our readers from all around the world and especially to those who wrote to us. We have chosen a selection of letters for you to read in this issue. Please keep writing to us with your ideas and comments. We hope you continue to find Simply Australia both entertaining and informative.

In this issue is a new column, The Collection Box. You are encouraged to fill this box with your snippets of information and questions.

Early in November some of the Simply Australia team went on an adventure across the Blue Mountains in search of various locations mentioned in one of our feature articles, A Ride From Bathurst To Sydney 1860. We had a great time finding and photographing sections of the route taken by Skillicorn, the butcher who completed the ride in less than a day. It was rather appropriate that we were following the route of a horse ride on Melbourne Cup Day in Australia. A late lunch at the Cockatoo Inn in Hartley Valley meant that we were able to listen to the race huddled round a radio.

Thanks again to all our contributors and readers. All of us at Simply Australia wish you a peaceful holiday season and every good wish for the coming year.