The lead news story in the Examiner’s November 3, 1999 edition covered Nelson Bay Town Management and the business chamber’s wish to install closed-circuit security cameras (CCTV) in the town centre.

The move, a first for any Port Stephens town, was a bid to cut down on anti-social behaviour.

The organisations approached Port Stephens Council to trial the cameras in Nelson Bay as a prelude to developing a security management plan.

It came after East Ward councillor Bob Baldwin successfully moved for the council to introduce an alcohol-free zone in the Bay CBD.

Also on the front page was a story about beetles and dog poo.

Two thousand dung beetles were released across Port Stephens – in Raymond Terrace, Medowie, on the Tilligerry Peninsula and Nelson Bay – to tackle poop pollution.

This edition of the Examiner also included a street poll on asking people how they would vote in the November 6 referendum to amend the Constitution of Australia (to become a republic) and a full page advertisement from the Yes Committee encouraging readers to vote yes.

(Side note: 45.13 per cent of Australians voted yes in the referendum, 54.87 per cent – or 6,410,787 people – voted no).

Finalists for the Examiner’s small business awards were also announced in a special feature in the paper.