© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY

coal industry

Read more about the article James Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 2

James Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 2

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. The following second chapter, concerning Fletcher's involvement with The Newcastle Morning…

Continue ReadingJames Fletcher, by Dulcie Hartley. Chapter 2
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…

Continue ReadingJames Fletcher, behind the legend, by Dulcie Hartley
Read more about the article King Coal’s loyal foot-soldiers on the job
Left to right: Joel Fitzgibbon, MP, ALP Federal Member for Hunter; Stephen Galilee, CEO, Minerals Council of NSW; Mark Latham MLC, NSW One Nation Party leader; John Barilaro, NSW National Party leader. Photo from Joel Fitzgibbon's Twitter account.

King Coal’s loyal foot-soldiers on the job

Opinion by Greg Ray The photo tells you much about the coal industry in NSW. A bunch of political bottom-feeders in uniform for the fading but still wealthy King Coal. You’ve got old mate Fitzy on the left, still in shock from nearly losing his seat at the most recent election. The nominally Labor Member for the federal seat of Hunter wants to blame everybody but himself, and perhaps figures if he cosies up to King Coal and gets himself on the op-ed writing roster for Mr Murdoch’s media stable he might be able to future-proof…

Continue ReadingKing Coal’s loyal foot-soldiers on the job
×
×

Cart