Making news that month, the long-term future of Hydro’s aluminium smelter at Kurri Kurri was given a boost following the approval of $77.2 million expenditure to upgrade the smelter’s power supply infrastructure.

Kurri Kurri singer Melody Pool, then 17, had been selected for the prestigious Camerata Country Music School at Tamworth; and renowned opera conductor Brian Castles-Onion returned to his hometown of Cessnock to launch his book Losing the Plot in Opera.

A Kurri Kurri family got a huge surprise when their cattle dog gave birth to an unexpectedly large litter of 11 puppies.

Cessnock City Scouts held an event to celebrate the centenary of the scouting movement in Australia.

In sporting news, up-and-coming motorcycle racer Matthew Walters was starting to make a name for himself on the Australian Superbikes circuit, and mayoress of Cessnock Lyn Clarence became the first woman to complete 1000 kilometres at Kurri Aquatic Centre.