Cyclone Tracy survivors broke down in tears as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to those who lost their lives in one of Australia’s worst natural disasters.
The category four cyclone swept through the Northern Territory capital half a century ago on Christmas Eve and the early morning hours of Christmas Day in 1974.
The cyclone flattened the city as heavy rain, severe storms and damaging winds of up to 217km/h brought down power lines and destroyed the homes of thousands of families.
The destructive storm tragically claimed the lives of 66 people.
Mr Albanese along with the Governor General Sam Mostyn paid their respects to them – and the city’s brave survivors – on the 50th anniversary of the devastating tragedy on Wednesday.
A memorial, complete with a shade sculpture, was also unveiled in honour those who were lost at sea or killed during the cyclone.
Artist Techy Masero designed and constructed the monument, which is aptly named ‘Five Decades, Five Flowers, Forever Remembered’.
Ms Masero explained her inspiration for the work were the countless frangipani flowers left all over the city scattered by the wind.
Mr Albanese along with the Governor General Sam Mostyn travelled to Darwin for the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy and to unveil a monument commemorating the disaster
Artist Techy Masero designed and constructed the monument, aptly named ‘Five Decades, Five Flowers, Forever Remembered’, to honour those who died during the Cyclone
The monument is comprised of five frangipani flowers crafted from polished concrete and steel which surround a metal awning symbolising the contorted corrugated iron that was blown through the city.
Mr Albanese spoke at the ceremony and labelled the tragedy ‘the destructive force of nature at its very worst’.
‘An entire city almost wiped off the map,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘Across Darwin, families huddled fearfully in the safest places they could find, whispering prayers, holding each other tight, waiting for the howling darkness to pass.’
His words resonated with survivors whose sobs became audible, their tears wiped away by each other as the trauma of Tracy resurfaced.
There was a sense of collective grief as the memorial was unveiled revealing the names of those who have been recorded as dying in Cyclone Tracy.
Mr Albanese reminded the crowd many more lives, particularly First Nations people, had also been lost but were never counted.
‘For many First Nations people, their loss wasn’t recorded as families returned to their traditional homelands,’ Mr Albanese said.
Families and friends gathered to pay tribute to those who lost their lives (pictured)
Mr Albanese (centre) praised the residents of Darwin for their ‘profound courage’, describing the cyclone as the ‘nature at its very worst’
‘Today, we gather to pay our nation’s respects to all those taken from their loved ones that fateful night.’
The Prime Minister, who was a child and living in Sydney when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, also praised the residents of Darwin for their ‘profound courage’.
He added the cyclone highlighted the ‘strength and kindness of Australians at their very best’, including emergency services and ‘everyday Australians who responded with characteristic generosity’ and rushed to the disaster zone.
‘Above all we pay tribute to the great resilience of the great city of Darwin and the proud people who call it home, because the hard work of rebuilding homes, communities and lives is always an act of profound courage,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘While the modern city of Darwin has grown and thrived, it has changed and evolved — the unique character of this place and the special warmth of the people who call it home endures stronger than ever,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘The monument that we unveil today stands in tribute to those qualities and to this solemn truth.
‘The story of Darwin and the story of Australia — no matter the challenge, we face it together and we look after each other.’
Governor General Sam Mostyn described the people of Darwin as tenacious and praised them for the kindness shown during the first few days following the cyclone.
Cyclone Tracy swept through Darwin on Christmas Eve and during the early morning hours of Christmas Day in 1974
The cyclone flattened the city as heavy rain, severe storms and damaging winds of up to 217km/h brought down power lines and destroyed the homes of thousands of families
‘This is your tenacity, your love for Darwin and commitment to ensuring that what you and your community went through will not be forgotten,’ Ms Mostyn said.
‘It was all of you, the people that determinedly stayed to get ready for what was to come to make sure Darwin survived — you are a tenacious group.
‘(You) took care of each other and I think you taught the country what real care and kindness looks like.
‘The care and kindness of the community and those first few days underpinning the persistence and determination and ensured a new Darwin would emerge and emerge quickly.
‘As much as we mourn the loss of those that did not make it, that tells us so much about what makes you mighty today.’
The ceremony concluded with families, survivors and dignitaries embracing each other as they stood where the tropical cyclone first made landfall half a century ago.
