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Read more about the article James Fletcher, behind the legend, by Dulcie Hartley
The statue of James Fletcher at the Lower Reserve, Newcastle, in 1976

James Fletcher, behind the legend, by Dulcie Hartley

My late friend and amateur historian Dulcie Hartley published several books during her lifetime, but one book she was very proud of never made it into print. This was her book about James Fletcher, Newcastle's famous "miners' advocate" - the only man in the city to be commemorated with a statue. Miner, politician and newspaper proprietor, Fletcher was immensely popular and influential, and Dulcie was fascinated by him. After Dulcie's death, her daughter Venessa entrusted me with the manuscript, and I have slowly transcribed it. What follows are the preface and first chapter of Dulcie's six-chapter…

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Read more about the article A gallery of motorcycle photos
Mount Hudson, past Rose Brook, Hunter Valley, NSW. Photo by Doug Brown.

A gallery of motorcycle photos

Rummaging among collections and albums of old photographs and negatives I very often find images of motorcycles. And from talking to old-timers I gather that motorbikes were seen for many years as a relatively inexpensive means of transport. When coupled with a sidecar they were cheaper than a small car - both to buy and to run. That's not to say they didn't have an aura of glamour about them. Here's a selection of some vintage motorcycle photos, gathered from a variety of sources. It's got pedals, but it's also got a motor. Does that make…

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Read more about the article The debt genie: good servant, bad master
Bankcard logo, and a bank branch in the 1960s.

The debt genie: good servant, bad master

EASY credit is a two-edged sword. For most people in mainstream Australia it's easy to borrow money, but for a great many it's a lot harder to repay. I remember the solemnity that accompanied the arrival of my parents' first credit card. It was the 1970s and "Bankcard" was new to Australia. My vague memories of dinner table conversations are that this was an American idea, convenient but dangerous. Firm rules had to be established to make sure this powerful new genie remained a servant and never became a master. Bankcard purchases had to be closely…

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