The year that was 2021…

Other news worthy events that have happened during another COVID ravaged year…

 

1 JAN The words of the Australian national anthem, “Advance Australia Fair”, are changed for the first time since 1984, amending the line “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free”
6 JAN Supporters of President Donald Trump attack the United States Capitol, disrupting certification of the 2020 presidential election and forcing Congress to evacuate. Five people died during the riot. The event is classified as domestic terrorist attack and drew international condemnation.
20 JAN Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States.
22 JAN An ongoing plague of mice continued to cause problems and began to cause concerns for crops in areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
23 JAN Emmy-winning broadcaster Larry King dies at age 87.
7 FEB The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV, giving Tom Brady his 7th Lombardi Trophy.
1 MAR Michael Gudinski, music entrepreneur (b. 1952) dies
23 MAR Large cargo ship ‘Ever Given’ gets stuck in the Suez Canal, snarling global trade operations.
3 APR Carla Zampatti, fashion designers (b. 1942 in Italy) dies from injuries sustained from a fall when attending the opening night of La Traviata (Sydney)
9 APR Prince Philip (b. 1921) dies of old age at Windsor Castle – aged 99, two months before his 100th birthday.
9 JUN The first State of Origin series rugby league match to ever be held outside a capital city is played at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville.
11 JUN—11 JUL The UEFA Euro 2020, hosted by 11 different countries, is held, and is won by Italy after beating England on penalties.
10 JUL World No. 1 women’s tennis player Ash Barty wins her first Wimbledon ladies’ single title – 41 years after Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s win.
21 JUL Brisbane is announced as host city for the 2032 Summer Olympics and the 2032 Summer Paralympics.
23 JUL—8 AUG The 2020 Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo, Japan after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (24 Jul to 9 August 2020).
15 AUG 2021 Taliban offensive: The Taliban capture Kabul; the Afghan government surrenders to the Taliban.
26 AUG 2021 Kabul airport attack: At least 182 people are killed, including 13 U.S. service members, in a suicide bomb attack.
11 SEP Twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
15 SEP Australia cancels its Attack-class submarine construction deals with France in favour of the AUKUS security alliance with the United States and United Kingdom, which includes the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines.
22 SEP A 5.9 magnitude earthquake is reported, with the epicentre being around the Mansfield area in north-eastern Victoria. The quake’s effects were felt as far away as Tasmania and Adelaide. Southern NSW experienced the quake as well.
25 SEP Melbourne Demons defeat Western Bulldogs to win the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium, Perth. It is the Demons’ first premiership victory since 1964.
30 SEP A tornado touches down in the NSW Central West, demolishing homes in Peel and Meadow Flat. Three people are left injured.
3 OCT Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs to win the 2021 NRL Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium, securing their first premiership since 2003 and their third overall.
30 OCT Bert Newton, Australian media personality (b. 1938) dies. A Victorian state funeral was held in his honor on 12 November.
2 NOV Verry Elleegant wins the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
3 NOV Four-year old Cleo Smith, who disappeared from the Blowholes campsite on 16 October, is found alive by police at a house in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
5 NOV Russell Ebert, Australian rules footballer and considered one of the greatest players in history of Australian rules football in South Australia, dies after battling acute myloid leukemia. A state funeral was held in his honor on 16 November.