Felton victory immortalised in new book
ONE of the key figures in the campaign to stop a coal mine in Felton has written a book about the crusade and hopes to inspire others to speak up.
Rob McCreath was, for more than four years, a staunch opponent to Ambre Energy which had eyed off the rich agricultural Felton Valley area and its buried coal deposits.
The farmer rallied his neighbours and garnered community support which snowballed into a passionate - and ultimately successful - campaign against the mining company, politicians and naysayers.
The battle was hailed a modern-day David versus Goliath victory and one Mr McCreath hopes will inspire more people to believe in the power of community.
“Once we started the campaign, we didn’t know the chances of winning,” said Mr McCreath, author of Friends of Felton: How a small farming community stood up to Big Coal and won. “Not only were we fighting the mining company but quite often fighting the State Government.”
Mr McCreath has self-published the book recounting the battle and the years since the Felton community declared victory over Ambre Energy and the State Government.
“It’s the true story of our campaign which finally won against a coal mining proposal and culminated in the Felton Food Festival which is a huge success,” he said.
Buy the book through Rob McCreath author on Facebook.