18 December 2024
It has been 50 years since Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. The Category 4 cyclone, with winds over 217km/h, damaged 70 per cent of Darwin’s homes, leaving 41,000 people homeless.
Almost the entire city was uninhabitable.
The event resulted in 66 fatalities, including two Navy personnel from HMAS Arrow – Petty Officer Leslie Catton and Able Seaman Ian Rennie – and four Naval dependents (two wives and two children who were killed in the married quarters while their loved ones were on duty). About 145 people were seriously injured and more than 500 left with minor injuries.
Survivors of Arrow told of the Darwin Harbour conditions when Tracy struck, of mountainous seas whipped up by 170-knot winds into “crashing dumpers” and ships sinking all around them.
Australia’s armed forces soon rallied from around the country, reporting to their place of duty, often without orders.
Australia’s Navy launched its largest peacetime disaster relief operation, involving 13 ships and 11 aircraft.
Then Defence Minister Lance Barnard said Navy had capacity to provide a skilled workforce in Darwin without imposing on the city’s limited facilities.
“Because of this, the Navy has been chosen for the major task of restoring Darwin’s essential services and clearing up the worst hit suburbs,” he said.
Australia’s armed forces soon rallied from around the country, reporting to their place of duty, often without orders.
The first Navy asset to reach Darwin was an HS748 aircraft on December 26, delivering medical equipment and Red Cross workers. Additional ships and aircraft quickly followed.
HS748 aircraft ferried personnel and stores to Darwin and evacuees south.
The task force undertook massive relief efforts, clearing debris, repairing homes and restoring essential services.
Helicopters transported 7832 passengers and 110,912kg of freight, and made 2505 landings.
Air Force’s Squadron Leader Bill Fewster and his team were the first C-130 crew to depart Richmond for Darwin on Christmas Day.
On board was a medical team and emergency supplies but, while en route, the C-130E crew overheard radio transmissions indicating the BAC-111 carrying retired Major General Alan Stretton was unexpectedly in Mount Isa.
Given the importance of getting the operational commander to the disaster site, Squadron Leader Fewster diverted to Mount Isa and picked up Stretton.
The C-130E crew then flew to a darkened Darwin where none of the runway lights or navigation aids were working. The aircraft was guided to the runway using an airborne radar approach.
On the morning of December 26, Group Captain Hitchins and his Army and Navy peers in Headquarters Operational Command intended to evacuate all ADF personnel.
Major General Stretton, of the Natural Disasters Organisation, made sure supplies and skilled labour made it in to Darwin, at the same time moving citizens out so emergency workers could restore essential services. In total, more than 30,000 residents were evacuated. Of these, 18,853 were accommodated by Army in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.
At the time of the cyclone, Army had 160 personnel in six units in Darwin and assisted with refugee evacuations, provision of personnel, medical assistance, assistance to police, aerial mapping, constructed Bailey bridges, and conducted clearance and restoration.
With personnel being recalled from Christmas leave, one of Australia’s biggest humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations was under way.
Elements of 2 Field Engineering Regiment delivered pumping and purification equipment to Darwin, accompanied by plumbers, refrigerator mechanics, electricians, plant operators, mechanics and fitters.
With personnel being recalled from Christmas leave, one of Australia’s biggest humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations was under way.
Disaster relief flights to and from Darwin continued sporadically until mid-February, with the last RAAF C-130 mission occurring on February 15, 1975.
These flights were supplemented by support from Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Air Force and Indonesian C-130s.
Those who took part in the Cyclone Tracy operations took away longlasting memories of the devastation, the intensity of the operation (including the extreme fatigue they experienced) and the community response.
Then Defence Minister Mr Barnard expressed his thanks on behalf of the Australian Government.
“All the armed services have played their part in the emergency,” he said.
“I wish to express my personal thanks to all.”
