NEWSPRINT produced at Ettamogah was used to tell the world's biggest stories, whether it was the space shuttle Challenger exploding, Olympic triumphs or election results.
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Now the fact you're reading this on a screen, rather than on paper, underlines why the Border plant will soon be no more.
The factory opened in August 1981 under the banner Australian Newsprint Mills, with NSW Premier Neville Wran having the honour of doing the deed.
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His Cabinet had met in Albury in 1978 and supported public investment in the project alongside the private capital.
"That is significant because industry and government combined to locate industry away from the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong area," Mr Wran said.
With evening papers still being sold in capital cities and online publishing a generation away, the mill enjoyed boom years in the 1980s with 400 employees.
In 1998 when ANM became Fletcher Challenge after an ownership change there were 260 workers.
At that time it was estimated another 750 jobs in forestry, engineering and transport were linked to the mill.
Electricity consumed at the mill was more than the combined power requirements of Albury-Wodonga.
Energy costs continued to be a major concern, along with the decline in newsprint demand.
At the time mill manager Milo Foster reflected that in the previous three years exports had gone from zero to 25 per cent and domestic business had shrunk by an equivalent amount.
"We still have 180 people working here and despite the decline in the market we are still able to keep running every day thanks to some exports and the good quality products we produce," he said.
It was due to reach the eight million mark this year.