The recent weather has brought snow to areas that aren’t accustomed to the blizzard conditions including parts of Queensland, ironically known as the Sunshine State.
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But some of our younger readers may be surprised to know that it once snowed here in Cessnock.
Almost 50 years ago to the day on July 18, 1965, around 10cm of snow fell on Mount Sugarloaf, and some 16cm on hills around the Cessnock area, including Quorrobolong, Mount View and Millfield.
Advertiser reader Myra Hill shared her photos of her children playing in the snowfield of Quorrobolong.
She said her family were at church on the Sunday morning, and had heard people who lived at Kitchener and Quorrobolong say it had been snowing in the area.
“We didn’t believe them at first,” Myra said.
So the family got in their car and joined the line of traffic who headed out to see the wonder for themselves.
Myra said her kids thoroughly enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“They were quite excited,” she said.
“It was a great lot of fun.”
Many flocked to the areas to see the snow for themselves, some engaging in snow fights and building snowmen that they attempted to bring home on the back of their cars, “which of course didn’t last long,” Myra said.
The road up to the summit of Mount Sugarloaf even had to be closed by police due to the heavy traffic.
Mount Sugarloaf also received snow in the winter of 1975.
Do you remember the snow events of 1965 or 1975? Send your photos to sage.swinton@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
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Some readers did not have access to cameras back in those days but have shared their memories on Facebook of the snow. See some of the comments and the original Facebook post below.
Dale Watson: "Yes I remember playing in the snow at Mt View, I was 5 years old, unfortunately I have no photos, as we didn't own a camera. Their was only one car owner in our street & he took all the kids in our street to see the snow, we were very lucky."
Kristine Burr: "I remember but again no camera in our house back then.. Dad took us to quorrobolong to see the snow...❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️"
Ruth Lorraine Spink: "Golly that was a long time ago-I remember!!"
Jenny Jones: "I remember that event. Snow on Mt Sugarloaf and in the Watagans too."
Linda Rehfeld: "Mum drove us from Southie to Kitchener to build a snow man. We put it on top of the car and drove in to town. What fun"