Take a look back at what was happening in Cessnock City 10 years ago this month.
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Preparations were underway for the fifth annual Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival, while Cessnock hosted its first-ever Relay For Life.
Residents raised concerns about the state of Swamp Creek, and a flood alarm was installed at Abermain.
In sporting news, Cessnock archer Grant Elsley was named Cessnock City Sportsperson of the Year for the second year in a row, and the Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club was gearing up for its inaugural Casey Stoner Cup.
On the national front, sunken World War II ship HMAS Sydney was discovered off the west Australian coast that month.
Cessnock man Don Clark had a family connection to the ill-fated cruiser – his father Daniel died on the ship, two months before Mr Clark was born.
READ HIS STORY BELOW.
SYDNEY MYSTERY OVER: An emotional time about the father he never knew
The Advertiser, March 26, 2008
For Cessnock’s Don Clark, the discovery of the ill-fated cruiser HMAS Sydney II off the West Australian coast last week held a special significance.
And while the families of those 645 men who went down on that fateful day on November 19, 1941 finally have closure, it once again revived memories of the father he did not know.
Don was conceived prior to HMAS Sydney II leaving for active duty and was born on January 5, 1942.
His father, Daniel Murchie Clark had been in the merchant navy before joining the RAN and was an acting leading stoker when the ship was sunk.
Don and his mother lived Sydney where his mother worked at various jobs, re-marrying later in life.
Don’s 89-year-old mother Jean lives in a nursing home on the Central Coast and has also been experiencing the emotional rollercoaster like so many other relatives of those brave sailors.
“She’s always had the will and desire to live long enough to find out what happened,” said Don.
She has now fulfilled that dream,” he said.
Don said he first learned of the discovery of the German raider Kormoran and like many others were quietly confident HMAS Sydney II would be found close by.
He said his mother never talked about losing her husband all that much, but at a very early age he was told the story because those days most children had a mother and a father.
Don said learning about the discovery started what had been a hectic and emotional few days.
He has always been kept informed of happenings through his connections with the HMAS Sydney Association.
He was also planning to be in Sydney on April 24 for a memorial service and will be travelling to Western Australia if planned commemorations take place there on the 67th anniversary of the loss of the ship.
This could include a service at the HMAS Sydney II memorial site in Geraldton and a commemoration on board the current HMAS Sydney over the wreck site.
