Combined service of more than 1350 years gathered in one room when more than 80 people attended a Border company reunion.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Past and present employees of Ettamogah paper mill Norske Skog, including five former managers, met at The Albury Club on Friday.
The first manager Eddie Kaine had a sample of the first sheet of newsprint produced on the paper machine.
Since the official opening on August 28, 1981, the mill has operated under three owners.
Present mill manager Milo Foster said Australian Newsprint Mills, which began in 1938 in Tasmania, built the Albury mill nearly 38 years ago.
"Since that time, the mill has produced nearly eight million tonnes of newsprint, first under ANM, then Fletcher Challenge from 1997 and since the year 2000 under the ownership of Norske Skog," he said.
"The Albury mill has been able to do what many Australian manufacturing sites have been unable to accomplish: to remain viable for nearly 40 years of operation, through continuous improvement, innovation and a flexible, forward-thinking workforce and management team."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Les Davey transferred from Tasmania to take on harvesting supervision roles and spent more than 42 years with the company.
"I made great friends and it was like an extended family as most everyone knew and supported each other, knew your family and in some cases, the names of your pets as well," he said.
The second mill manager Ian Thompson said the early days brought plenty of challenges as the Albury mill was the largest capital construction project in Australia at the time.
"There was a lot of novel technology to debug and start up with a world first all-mechanical pulp from radiata pine, and no chemical pulp used, a waste water treatment to allow discharge to the Murray River, the introduction of mechanical harvesting to Australian plantations, the first twin-wire paper machine in Australia and heavy use of new electronic controls for machinery," he said.
"Everyone learned remarkably quickly, and Albury developed a reputation around the world as a leader in production, quality, environmental standards and safety.''
Some reunion attendees travelled from Tasmania, reflecting strong links to the Boyer Paper Mill where a number of Albury employees started their careers.
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here