ABC News Daily Cyclone Tracy: The Survivors
Dec 18, 2024
Join Jane Bardon, an ABC Darwin journalist, and Alan Haines, a former fuel depot worker, as they share gripping tales from the night Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. They delve into personal accounts of terror and survival, revealing how the community confronted devastation. Explore why many chose to return and rebuild their lives in a cyclone-prone area. Together, they reflect on the emotional scars left by this disaster and discuss the vital lessons learned as climate change escalates the risk of similar events.
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Creswick's Experience
- Richard Creswick, a journalist, partied despite early cyclone warnings, only realizing the danger as his house fell apart.
- He and his housemate sheltered in the bathroom amidst the deafening noise, finding strange humor in the chaos.
Mills' Near-Death Experience
- June Mills, a 16-year-old mother, narrowly escaped death with her baby during Cyclone Tracy.
- She witnessed the terror on people's faces during the evacuation, a sight that has stayed with her.
Haines' Hospital Experience
- Alan Haines, a 20-year-old fuel worker, helped shelter nurses and patients at the hospital during Cyclone Tracy.
- He witnessed the chaotic aftermath and the nurses' heroic efforts in treating the injured.