The bag was full of toiletries of almost no value but it did also contain a small blue box of assorted jewellery that had immense sentimental value to me. I am writing in the hope that whoever stole the bag may have found the small box and may try to on-sell the jewellery or dump the bag somewhere.

I am driving back to Canberra through Albury on January 13 to 14, and hope that if anyone finds the toiletries bag or the small jewellery box or sees the pieces described below, they could hand it in to the Albury police or to the Albury Manor House. This is a small hope only but the theft was obviously close to Christmas.

I am particularly sad about the jewellery which included a gold chain necklace (box links) that had my grandmother’s ring on it and a small pendant of three dolphins in a circle, which are the pieces of most sentimental value to me.

There were also earrings including distinctive seahorse studs, ying/yang circles in orange, dangling owls, and lapis lazuli and black obsidian studs and hanging earrings. Another distinctive piece is a set of a pendant and small silver studs in the shape of jigsaw pieces.

I thought the main pieces may be worth trying to sell and your readers may come across them. I am offering a reward if the jewellery box is returned or even just for the ring/dolphin pendant on the chain.

I want also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the staff (especially Carl) at the Albury Manor House and the Albury police for their concern and assistance. Although this Christmas is, frankly, ruined for me, I will continue to visit Albury on my trips to/from Melbourne and Canberra and continue to enjoy the warm hospitality and friendliness of your wonderful city.

The brazen robbery committed at the Uniting Care Church in Wodonga three days before Christmas has turned me off Christmas. What a low act probably committed by low lives that have abused the Christian kindness of that church in the past.

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This is a Church community that serves and feeds the poor, hungry, mentally ill, and the down and out day in day out, with the service of mostly ageing volunteers.

I hope the wider corporate community also offer some help to this magnificent organisation. I also hope the Church its congregation and many volunteers know that decent people were appalled when we heard of this mongrel act. May the Church and all involved with it have a peaceful Christmas and New Year and thank you for all the wonderful work you do. As a believer of Karma, I feel these criminals can expect a knock at the door by police sooner rather than later.

On behalf of all the supporters and friends, we would like to thank the Albury Base Hospital and whoever else was responsible for the reopening of the Albury Base Hospital pool. We also thanks all of those who helped by signing our petition.