The year that was

OF all the big, important stories that emerged this year it's the natural disasters that still take my breath away.

OF all the big, important stories that emerged this year it's the natural disasters that still take my breath away.

Those pictures of people stranded on rooftops during the Queensland floods, the dread that accompanied Cyclone Yasi, the devastation of the Christchurch earthquakes and the Japanese tsunami ... what a terrible three months to start 2011.

We've dedicated this, our last issue for the year to the people and events that made headlines, but it's not all doom and gloom. Our cover-boy Wally De Backer (aka Gotye) has had an extraordinary few months - his song Somebody That I Used to Know has made him the star of the year - and we even managed to find a good story in retail.

It's been a big year for this magazine, too. Your support and feedback have been welcome, and we'd like to wish all our readers a safe and happy Christmas.