Beginning production in 1969 and employing 1100 people at one stage, Hydro Aluminium – also known as Alcan, Capral and VAW over the years – stopped production late in 2012 after a long wind-down process.

The devastating news reverberated across the Hunter Valley region, Kurri and surrounding communities as news that hundreds of direct employees and thousands of indirect employees of the aluminium plant had lost their jobs.

As the divide between former workmates continues to get wider as time passes and new jobs, new addresses and new lives widen the opportunity for old friends to catch up, a committee of ex-employees have formed to organise a reunion and are planning to make it an annual event.

“The Kurri Kurri Smelter Committee are hoping to make this inaugural reunion a big success and plan to make it an annual event similar to the reunion of ex-BHP workers that has happened annually since the closure of the steel mill in 1998,” committee member Paul O’Brien said.

“The Hydro Aluminium plant closure is not to the scale of the BHP closure but is just as devastating to Kurri Kurri, Cessnock and surrounding regions community and a necessity as far as reuniting friends and associates who are missing each other’s company.”

The reunion will be held at Kurri Bowling Club at 11am with fingerfood provided.

Anyone who has ever worked at the smelter – permanent, casual or contractor and their partners are welcome to attend.

Phone Paul O’Brien on 0425 302 962 for more information.