almanac.htm

The REFRIGERATOR was patented by A T Marshall of Massachusetts - 1899.

The first DAVIS CUP, named after Dwight Davis, began in Massachusetts - 1900.

* The US defeated Great Britain 3-0.

AUSTRALIA'S LONGEST MARRIAGE commenced when Clara Lapham married Earnest Dennett. They were married for 77 years - 1904.

* Clare died in 1982, aged 95.

RUGBY LEAGUE was born in Australia when a meeting of 50 people assembled at Bateman's Hotel in George St , Sydney - 1907.

NEW DELHI became the capital of India and Karachi became the capital of Pakistan - 1947.

FATS DOMINO's first album This Is Fats was released - 1957.

ROY ORBISON recorded Blue Angel - 1960.

DECCA RECORDS in Britain destroyed 25,000 copies of Ray Peterson's single Tell Laura I Love Her - 1960.

* The company refused to release the single, saying it was "too tasteless and vulgar for the English sensibility."

GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY occurred in Cheddingham , Britain - 1963.

* 15 men took off with £2.5 million. ‘Buster’ Edwards, who committed suicide in 1994, surrendered to the police in 1966 and served 11 years. Ronald Biggs escaped from jail in 1965 and headed to Australia before settling in Brazil . After 35 years in Brazil he finally surrendered in 2001 and is now in jail in England .

SIR JOHANNES BJELKE-PETERSEN became Premier of Queensland - 1968.

* He was going to retire on this day 1988 but was forced to resign as Premier on December 1, 1987.

The famous photo of the BEATLES crossing the road outside the Abbey Road studio was taken. It was used for the cover of their album Abbey Road - 1969.

JANIS JOPLIN bought a headstone for her singing idol Bessie Smith (who died in 1947) - 1970.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY opened in Queensland - 1971.

RICHARD NIXON announced his resignation as President of the United States , effective the following day - 1974.

* He was the first U.S. President to resign from office.

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK had its world premiere in Adelaide - 1975.

* Picnic At Hanging Rock and Gallipoli (see below) were both directed by Peter Weir and both produced by Pat Lovell.

GALLIPOLI premiered in Sydney - 1981.

* It premiered 66 years to the day of the Battle of Nek which was depicted in the final battle scene in the film.

Sydney DRIVE-INS located at Parklea, Penrith, Warriewood, Fairfield and Matraville screened their final movies before closing down - 1984.

MAD MAX: THUNDERDOME opened in Australian cinemas - 1985.

BEATRICE ELIZABETH was born to the Duchess Of York and Prince Andrew, on this 8th day of the 8th month at 18 past 8 - 1988.

Gerry and Toni Cardinalli of New Zealand had their twin daughters on this 8^th day of the 8^th month 1988 (8/8/’88) and their son was born on the 9^th day of the 9^th month 1999 (9/9/’99).

DAVID LANGE, NZ Prime Minister, resigned for health reasons and was succeeded by GEOFFREY PALMER - 1989.

BENAZIR BHUTTO, was sacked as

Pakistan

's Prime Minister over corruption allegations - 1990.

BILLY PRESTON was charged with exhibiting pornographic material to a minor and also possession of cocaine - 1991.

PRINCE PHILIP on a walkabout in Scotland asked a local driving instructor - “How do you keep the locals off the booze long enough to get them to pass the test?” - 1995.

TOM CRUISE and NICOLE KIDMAN officially divorced - 2001.

24, starring Kiefer Sutherland, began on Australian television - 2002.