Our forebears wanted us to do that when they named roads in a new subdivision in the early 1940s near Little Beach.

Today we have nearly all the story but one important name is missing. On December, 13 1939, the first major sea battle of World War II occurred off the River Plate estuary of Argentina and Uruguay.

A German pocket battleship, the Admiral Graf Spee had been sinking commercial ships and was finally cornered by the British South American Cruiser Division. Streets were named in Nelson Bay after the ships involved in this battle: HMS Ajax (Ajax Avenue), commanded by Commodore Haywood (Haywood Avenue), HMS Achilles (Achilles Street) manned by New Zealanders and HMS Exeter, street named but later (in the 1960s) changed to Shoal Bay Road.

Exeter Road/Shoal Bay Road was crossed at the roundabout by Gowrie Avenue named after Alexander Hore-Rutheven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, Governor General of Australia 1936-1945, Governor of NSW, 1935-36 and Governor of SA 1928-1934.

The German ship fled into Montevideo Harbour (Montevideo Avenue) and was scuttled outside that harbour by the crew on December 17.

The naming of these streets in our community linked us to this historic event. December 2019 will be the 80th anniversary and I believe it appropriate and important for future generations that we ensure the missing name is restored.

This can be easily done by adding under the large name Shoal Bay Road, a sign that says 'Formerly Exeter Road', on the stand in the centre of the roundabout where Shoal Bay Road crosses Gowrie Avenue.

It would further inform residents and tourist of this historic link if the council erected a sign nearby linking the street names to this historic battle.

The nearby RSL could assist in this proposal.

Mayor, Ryan Palmer just doesn't seem to get it in his recent comments (Examiner, May 16).

Port Stephens Council is 'Fit for the Future', as proved when the proposed forced amalgamation with Newcastle was dumped when over 14,000 residents signed a petition and wrote submissions against this takeover.

With over $100-$150 million in cash, buildings, airport, caravan parks and land assets, that we know of, our council is definitely "Fit for the Future".

With strong community opposition and all these assets, this is why the IPART rejection came about.

If our council chooses to seek a much more reasonable request of around 2 or 3 per cent on top of CPI, over just three years, then nobody would even bat an eyelid.

On Saturday morning I was preparing to leave the Shoal Bay playground with my children in my car.

I made a thorough check to ensure there were no children near my vehicle before reversing. There was a couple standing about six metres away with their kids far enough away for me to safely reverse.

My reversing alarm suddenly went blaring so I paused to see what had set it off. Their child of about three emerged from the far side of my vehicle she had obviously ran off to get to the playground.

I am very upset and distressed at how easily an accident could have occurred despite my vigilance. If my car wasn't fitted with reversing sensors as so many aren't, this happy outing could have ended very badly for all of us.

Parents and carers please hold your children's hands near roads and in carparks. As all parents know, children can be impulsive and very quick.