As someone in an EV owning household in Port Stephens, I don't need access to public charging in the area as I can charge at home.

But Port Stephens is a noted tourist destination that is poorly covered by EV charging for visitors to the Bay and Port Stephens as a whole. Other than the BP servo at Karuah which has a publicly available DC charging facility on the Chargefox network, available to most EVs, the Port's only other chargers are the Tesla superchargers at Heatherbrae or destination chargers at locations around the Bay. Port Stephens is seriously lacking in these facilities for its visitors.

It is my understanding that charger network operators are looking for appropriate sites and councils would need only to make sites available and the networks provide the hardware, maintenance and management. I look forward to more facilities for our EV driving visitors.

Also read: Letters to the Editor, August 27

With the advent of Father's Day once more, some thought or opinion could be given to the plight of some single fathers.

Some time ago I used to hand out election material on voting day and had cause to have contact with others doing likewise. I found my conversations with the men who were handing out 'How to Vote' leaflets for the Non Custodial Parents Party to be often quite enlightening regarding the plight they face for a "fair go". Realistically there are dud dads and bad dads out there, and there is no excuse for the domestic violence which occurs in our society, but on the other hand there are a lot of good dads out there too. These are dads who are separated for whatever reason but who are very genuine in the responsibility to their children. Some have completely unreasonable demands made on them as a bargaining tool to allow them to see their children, even though their overall support is well over and above of what is legally required. Courts and solicitors are out of reach financially for most, and waiting time can be formidable, but if a sensible arrangement can be agreed upon by the parents, the child is the winner.

However on an occasion where the mother is vindictive, and demands unreasonable terms and conditions to enable the father to see his child/children, surely this must have an unsettling effect on everyone concerned? That includes grandparents and relatives on the father's side who are also being denied. Also, we must remember that children grow up, and unthinking mothers may pay the price in future years when the child discovers why time with Dad was, in fact, denied by her. Here's wishing all the good dads out there a very happy Father's Day.

140 years ago, on September 5, 1880, a tradie and a railway worker stood on the back of an apple cart in Adelaide's Botanic Park and shouted, "If there's a man here who hasn't had a square meal today, let him come home to tea with me."

That declaration is known as the first unofficial Salvation Army meeting in Australia. 140 years on and we are still here. While we may not be jumping on the back of apple carts, we are still providing meals to those who need it. We are still providing accommodation for those suffering from homelessness, family and domestic violence and addiction. We are still assisting those impacted by disaster. We are still giving hope, where it is needed most. That is why, on our 140-year anniversary of being in Australia, The Salvos want to honour the extraordinary Australian public who have donated and supported us over the years. Thank you.

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