I hope that they do not skimp as they have on other fire trails where clearing has left more dead fuel than it cleared.

Our home backs onto Conroy Road at Lemon Tree Passage and a recent trim back of the undergrowth and overhanging trees has resulted in them pushing leaf, bark and branches back against the base of several large gum trees along the top of the track near the volunteer coast guard site and down the hill for several hundred metres.

This pile of fuel can become a fire’s best friend and cause severe damage to the trees under which it has been discarded. No thought was given to the placement especially when you consider the homes that back onto the trail, mine included.

The main pile behind my home is only seven metres from the back of my house and considering that the tree itself is over 20 metres in height, a favorite for Koalas and very old, it could spell disaster if ignited.

We have started to reduce the amount of dead wood and leaf litter ourselves as the rural fire brigade does not appear understand what assists fires to spread.

A dispute in regards to Conroy Road has the council stating it is a registered road, the Rural Fire Services believing it is a fire trail only and the National Parks also believing it is theirs.

It means nobody will take responsibility for clearing directly behind the houses. Catch 22.

Christine Steele

Lemon Tree Passage

I am looking for any information on my great grandfather, Henry Johanson, who according to family stories, was taken by a shark at Jimmys Beach in the 1900s.

I have been to Tea Gardens family research centre but am still having trouble tracing him.

Jill Oakman

Dora Creek

"Are you Kevin Richard's wife?" the voice at the other end of the phone asked. 

"Yes," I replied my heart in my mouth. "Why?" 

"I have just found his wallet," the voice replied.  I breathed a sigh of relief, having expected a much different reply. He asked where I lived and he and his wife drove to my home and arrived at the same time as my husband, who was rather upset. They had picked his wallet up at the Medowie shopping centre. We thanked them profusely. The next day I bought a bunch of flowers and a lovely card and delivered it to their house having asked them their address.

They weren't home but their son was and I gave the gift to him.  "You didn't have to do that," he said. 

"I know," I replied. "But such honesty deserved such thanks."

Elaine Richards

Salt Ash

STOP, STOP, STOP. Do people not understanding the meaning of the many Stop signs in the square surrounding the Nelson Bay CBD?

I recently counted one or two cars out of every ten vehicles actually stopping, in some cases only because pedestrians were about to cross the road.

Also during the recent school holidays when we had a large number of families in the area, I personally noticed some extreme near misses – one lady's pram was struck by a 4WD. Luckily her husband was carrying the child and the pram was just filled with shopping.  

Certainly the incident could have been a lot more serious. Please observe the road signs.

Robert Paarson OAM

Nelson Bay