January 31, 1967
The murder of Wilhelmina Kruger at Piccadilly on the morning of Saturday, January 29, made the front page of the Illawarra Mercury on Monday. In an indication of how differently crime was reported at the time, that front page included a photo of the bloodstained concrete where the body was found.
"The horribly mutilated body of Mrs Wilhelmina Caroline Emily Kruger, 57, of John Street, Gwynneville, was found in the lower parking area of the Piccadilly Arcade at 6am.
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"She was the mother of two sons. It is believed that Mrs Kruger was attacked at the top of the escalators. The body was naked except for a piece of dress material around her neck.
"The body apparently had been dragged down the flight of escalators and a flight of stairs. A trail of blood and personal belongings led from the upper floor to the place where she was found.
"The items included broken false teeth, shoes and keys."
October-November, 1968
For nine days from October 27, bushfires blazed across the Illawarra with flames seen from Dapto all the way up to Coledale. One of the worst days was October 28, which came to be known as Black Monday. This is how the Mercury reported those events the following day.
"At least 25 homes were destroyed and dozens of people are homeless after the most disastrous bushfires in the history of the South Coast.
"Early this morning police launched a full-scale inquiry into a report that a police cadet had been burned to death at Thirroul.
"Investigations also were being made into the rumoured deaths of at least three other people.
"As this special bushfire edition went to press, firemen from all over the South Coast were battling fresh outbreaks ringing Phillip Lodge Old People's Homes and four houses in Ford Street, Thirroul.
"And at Bulli Hospital doctors and nurses were still treating dozens of fire victims, including a badly burned police cadet and two firemen.
"Firemen early this morning feared that further hot, dry winds could again lash the fires into devastating life."
February 28, 1982
The Illawarra Steelers played their first game in the Sydney competition. Despite playing at home - on Wollongong Showground field ringed by a greyhound track - the Steelers lost to Penrith 17-7.
"If there was anything missing yesterday (besides a home-town win) it was the complete lack of promotional razzamatazz.
"But to be fair, the Steelers management's first priority was to put a reasonable team on the paddock - the extras can come later.
"And the team went well. They didn't win, but they stuck to the task and fought back well to be just seven points down late in the second half.
"There was no shortage of support. More than 9500 fans poured into the showground and roared encouragement for the Steelers.
"The hill on the eastern touchline became a family centre as wives knitted, children played and husbands drank with other husbands as they watched the football.
"But Steelers T-shirts were far outnumbered by Parramatta, St George and other Sydney club colours.
"Eleven-year-old Stewart Ballintine of Berkeley was wearing a Steelers T-shirt but he admitted he would be swapping it for his Parramatta shirt when the Eels come to town."
June 11, 2000
Wollongong Wolves win the National Soccer League title, overcoming both a Perth Glory team playing at home and a 3-0 half-time deficit.
"The Wollongong Wolves pulled off the most sensational grand final win in the history of the National Soccer League with a pulsating comeback victory over Perth Glory at Subiaco Oval yesterday.
"After being 3-0 down at half-time the Wolves clawed their way back into an amazing game to force extra time and eventually win in an even more amazing penalty shoot-out.
"Those magnificent young men in white shirts silenced a parochial crowd of 43,242 Glory supporters who had started celebrating even before half-time.
"Soccer Australia could not have scripted a better grand final.
"It had everything - goals, drama and eventually tears of joy from just about every Wollongong person in the stadium.
"That red and white army of Wollongong fans must have thought it was all over for their heroes at half-time.
"Three-nil down and struggling defensively, even the most ardent supporter would have thought the season was over."
August 24, 2015
BlueScope CEO Paul O'Malley delivers an ultimatum - find millions in cost cuts or the Port Kembla steelworks will close.
"The Port Kembla steelworks could close if BlueScope cannot find $200 million in annual cost savings in its Australian operations for the next two years.
"The news came as the company announced its $136.3 million full-year net profit.
"BlueScope chief executive Paul O'Malley also announced a target of more than $200 million in "annual permanent cost reductions" in Australia by the 2017 financial year.
"The strategic review is well under way and we are committed to the delivery of the targeted savings," the BlueScope CEO said.
"If this target is not achievable, we will have no option but to move to external supply of quality hot rolled coil and billet steel feed with mothballing or closure of steelmaking.
"Mr O'Malley said Chinese steel imports this year were the equivalent in output of 20 Port Kemblas.
"He said at current prices it would be more competitive to source steel externally rather than make it in Australia ''unless we deliver a game-changing approach to costs to improve their competitiveness"."
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