Our family and grandchildren have been staying at a caravan park at One Mile Beach every year for the past three years, and the phone reception has not changed in that time. We visited a cafe at the end of the park, and the person serving us had to hold his credit card machine up near the ceiling so the transaction could go through.

I wonder what international visitors think when they see this or can't phone anyone?

With the recent devastation from fire in NSW and beyond, I believe that in this day and age we should be able to receive and send emergency calls from these areas. In view of Telstra's procrastination in the area, an alternative holiday location will be on the agenda for us in 2021.

Also read: Letters to the Editor, January 16

One simple way to free up traffic on Nelson Bay road is to follow the road rules.

That is when exiting a roundabout and driving straight through, you indicate with your left blinker. That is before you turn off not after. This frees up traffic to continue forward instead of waiting to see which way you're going. It makes very good sense and saves all that frustration trying to guess the other drivers. Let's have some signs on roundabouts which many towns have which read 'blink off when exiting'.

In response to the letter 'Respect to Over 60 Brigade' by Mervyn McConnochie (Examiner, January 2) who referred to the long wait for footpaths.

Here in Nelson Bay I am surprised that the council has never given attention to a pedestrian refuge on Government Road in the vicinity of Dutchies beach and Bagnalls Beach which has a lot of foot traffic. Crossing this road is truly a safety hazard for senior residents with dogs, young mums with prams and walkers in general. During holiday periods the problem increases dramatically. It is a very busy road and when it is safe to cross from the right, there are vehicles coming on the left, and visa versa. A pedestrian refuge about the level of Seaham Street would give all users safe crossing instead of having to take the risk of 'running the gauntlet'.

I have written to the council some months ago requesting consideration be given to this hazardous area but they have to wait to apply for funding?

Also read: Letters to the Editor, January 9

If you or a loved one had a stroke 30 years ago, the chances of returning to the life you knew were slim. But that is not the case anymore.

With the right treatment at the right time, it is possible to make a good recovery. With a new year underway, it's a fitting opportunity to look back on how far we have come in stroke treatment and care and think about what we can do to reduce our own personal stroke risk in the future. Stroke strikes the brain, the human control centre. There will be more than 56,000 strokes in Australia in 2020 - that is one every nine minutes. Sadly, the numbers continue to climb as our population grows and ages and lifestyles become more sedentary. But in good news, stroke is no longer a death sentence for many. Medical diagnosis and treatment have become much more advanced in the past two decades. There has been a significant reduction in lives lost as a result.

Every single Australian can make a difference to reducing the burden of stroke on our community. Stroke is largely preventable. In 2020, I urge you to make time for a health check with your doctor.

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