The Newcastle earthquake is etched into the fabric of the Hunter Region's history.
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As most Newcastle Herald journalists could attest, people often randomly refer to the earthquake.
It can come up in conversations about a range of different stories.
The earthquake arguably tops a list of major historical events in the region's history, like the Japanese bombing of Newcastle in World War II, the Maitland flood, the Sygna storm in 1974 and the Pasha Bulker storm in 2007. Let's throw the Star Hotel riot in 1979 on that list, too, even if it was a cultural event, as opposed to the natural and military events on the list.
With the 30th anniversary of the earthquake coming up on December 28, the Newcastle Herald will be taking readers back to that momentous time in the city's history with a series of articles starting on Saturday.
The Herald is seeking to photograph those who were helping, rescued or otherwise caught up in the drama of that fateful day. We are inviting those involved in the quake in the city that day to one of two photo shoots on Saturday morning.
The first is outside Wests City - the site of the former Newcastle Workers Club - on the corner of King Street and Union Street - at 10am.
The second is at Beaumont Street outside the Kent Hotel at 11am.
Herald photographer Jonathan Carroll will be taking the photographs, assisted by journalist Ian Kirkwood, who was at the club for the Herald on that fateful day.
The Herald's coverage will feature a number of images from our archives, including many that were never published at the time.
Jets or Knights?
At the Newcastle Jets game on Sunday, the ground announcer was heard to say: "Melbourne City 2 lead the Newcastle Knights ... ahh ... Jets 0".
"It was understandably met with groans from the crowd," Herald journalist Josh Leeson told Topics.
Numbers Game
Kurri's Col Maybury noticed his odometer had hit 77,777 kilometres.
"Do other drivers, like me, play odometer poker?" Col asks.
Col has a scientific mind. So he probably pays no heed to numerology - which relates to a divine or mystical relationship between numbers and events. [Sounds like astrology's cousin]
Anyhow, Col could be in for some interesting times ahead if numerology is anything to go by. The number seven is supposedly "intimately connected with new opportunities, especially ones that you weren't expecting to come your way", the lawofattraction.com says.
Those who keep seeing the number seven should apparently "trust your instincts and prepare for a spiritual awakening".
As for those of you who keep seeing 666 around a lot, well, we don't really need to tell you this .. but ... you're probably having a devil of a time.
