Grass fires will pose a significant risk this fire season, so make sure you have a cleared area around your home.

There are five simple steps to prepare a property for bush fires:

1. Trim overhanging trees and shrubs to stop the spread of fire.

2. Mow grass and remove the cuttings; have a cleared area around your home.

3. Remove material that can burn, like wood piles and furniture.

4. Clear debris from your gutters to stop embers causing a fire.

5. Prepare a sturdy hose or hoses that can reach around your home and make sure you've got a reliable source of water.

Remember, you need to prepare well beforehand as leaving it to the last minute is too late.

It only takes two days of hot, dry and windy weather to cure grass; make sure you manage your property so you don't become a fire risk to your community.

Make a bush fire survival plan so you know what you will do if there's a bush or grass fire near you. Visit myfireplan.com.au

The Refugee Action Collective Eurobodalla and the Moruya Amnesty group will wield the power of the pen to mark Human Rights Day on Thursday, December 10 - the anniversary of the United Nations' adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

What a tough year it has been for Human Rights, and especially for refugees around the world and within Australia. This is a powerful action we can take locally on such a special day.

Throughout the bushfires and COVID-19, our wonderful Eurobodalla community has experienced how powerful care for each other can be. We've felt the importance of safety and been reminded of the things that matter: connection, seeing family and friends, health, and home.

The plight of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia is sobering, and it is time for win-win solutions that provide safety. There are still almost 1500 people denied a safe home only because they arrived by boat after 2013.

Many have been detained for more than seven years. Most suffer serious health issues as a result of detention. We call on the government to free these women, men, and children to provide a pathway for permanent resettlement so they can rebuild their health, careers and lives.

We will also write for human rights defenders in Algeria, Burundi, Chile, Malta, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey as part of Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign. The simple act of writing a letter or signing a petition can achieve wonderful results. The case of Yasaman Aryani, in Iran, which our group worked on, received over one million letters.

Join us at the Red Door in Moruya, between Noon and 2pm.