I commend and sincerely thank Maurice Perry and Dean French for the job they have done and also to our police personnel involved.

I do believe the Aboriginal flag should be raised at all cenotaphs and memorials when we have remembrance services too.

Aboriginal people have served in all our wars and conflicts. I myself am Indigenous and was one of the first to serve in the Vietnam War.

I look forward to the day when our flag flies freely in recognition of our service.

I have just had the privilege of sailing in the Sail Port Stephens races out of Nelson Bay.

I was wondering if a vote was taken from residents of the Bay between jet skis and racing yachts, which one the local community would prefer?

Having just returned from a trip up north into Queensland, I noticed the different approach in the support of small businesses.

From Noosa, Montville, the Hinterlands and the Gold Coast, either free parking or limited three to five hour parking is offered in their areas. Why is it that the Bay is in such a hurry to turn our paradise into just another city with parking restrictions everywhere?

It seems that chasing a few dollars in meter fees or, more likely, the associated parking fines that follow is more important than encouraging visitors to enjoy the local shops and facilities.

Reading 'Boom a bust without backing' I was agreeably impressed by the in-depth analysis of the state of affairs in Medowie (letters, Examiner, April 29).

Then, I was amused looking at the photo-op (Page 2, Examiner, April 29) of Kate Washington MP with the canoe club winners of a NSW government Community Building Partnership (CBP) grant for $15,000, seemingly claiming credit for the MP.

I wonder if a state of the art accessible public toilet would qualified for the CBP grant if supported by our 'Voice in Parliament' (sic)? If so, Councillor Chris Doohan might convince council to chip in for the upkeep and maintenance.

In regard to 'Right time for Labor team' (Examiner, May 6), the story is a concern for many in the Port Stephens electorate.

We already have a Labor State representative and a Labor national representative as I have previously written about, and now we're lead to believe its the right time for more Labor influence. Leah Anderson (Labor) stated its time for someone to put our community first - is that not what all councilors are elected for? On that note, all councillors should be non-partisan as is the case of senior civil servants employed to government departments. I'm brave enough to write that most ratepayers don't give a hoot what political party councillors vote for privately, we care about our little corner of the world in terms of good roads, waste, disposal, parks, building, regulations and traffic conditions etc. Our Mayor, as the spokesperson for the council, is predominantly the public face of the planning and execution of these needs.

So please don't give us the 'right time'. Councillors current and future should just get on on with job they volunteered for at all times.

Federal budget 2021: $66 million to upgrade Newcastle Airport's runway to international standard

Loo and shower block first in Shoal Bay foreshore works to be complete, next up is pathway and new furniture

RBT leads to Fullerton Cove drugs bust by Port Stephens police

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