Push a child's stroller down the Barton Street "tar-sealed stop gap measure footpath", cross the road, push the stroller around the park on the more aesthetically pleasing brick footpath and then tell us what surface you prefer.

Better still, I'll lend you a manual wheelchair and someone can push you around on the same surfaces so you can get a first-hand feel.

Having just returned from a trip to Queensland and NSW I was amazed at the number of large and small towns that have history museums. They display and explain the colourful past of how these towns played an important role in settling our nation.

This brought me to wondering why the Cessnock area (apart from Wollombi and Kurri) does not have one. Our mining and viticulture has played an important part in the growth of our city, but still no bricks and mortar to display what has gone before.

Readers will note the spend on the Cessnock CBD and soon to be at Kurri but surprisingly our past has been forgotten. The same applies to tourist coach comfort stops in the CBD area that encourage visitors to spend.

Our history is so important and council should be looking at these aspects as well as the beautification work. Isn't our history worth preserving?

It was noted last week that Alex Greenwich is chairing a committee into the transition from the coal industry in the Hunter.

I would have it noted that in the last federal election this was an issue and was especially played out in the federal seat of Hunter.

When given a choice between The Nationals supporting the continuation of the industry vs Labor's transition away from the industry, the people of the valley voted en masse against this.

Mining is so important to the economy of the valley, contributing over 60,000 indirect and direct jobs plus $4.3 billion to the economy.

While people and parties from outside the area continue to push their agendas to threaten the livelihood of people, it is important to back those who continue to support us in the valley like the Nationals.