On the fortieth anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, Australians remember the devastation of the disaster and the determination of the people of Darwin to rebuild their city.
On Christmas Day 1974, Darwin was flattened by Cyclone Tracy.
It was a natural disaster almost without equal.
Sixty-six lives were lost. Three-quarters of the city’s homes were destroyed. Thousands of people were evacuated.
Darwin had to start again.
Cyclone Tracy demonstrated that when nature is at its worst, Australians are at their best.
We remember with pride all who evacuated the city and those who undertook the greatest airlift in our history.
The members of the Australian Defence Force have a special connection to Darwin and it is right that we honour their tireless efforts.
The lesson of Cyclone Tracy is that a determined people can rebuild and become stronger than before.
In 1974, Darwin’s population was 48,000 and today it is over 130,000. Darwin is our gateway to Asia and is one of Australia’s great energy hubs.
Four decades on, we remember the courage of all who responded to Cyclone Tracy as well as the determination, resilience and strength required to rebuild.
24 December 2014