A special service has been held in Darwin this weekend to remember 50 years since Cyclone Tracy devastated the city. Around two thousand residents attended including many survivors some who used the event to protest against a recently unveiled sculpture about the storm.
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00:00On a humid Darwin morning, Cyclone Tracey survivors and local residents paused to reflect
00:09on the storm that changed everything.
00:12The speed, strength and ferocity of Tracey shocked not only our Darwin community but
00:19the Australian people.
00:21It is a shared memory that looms large in our identity as a nation.
00:28I actually thought it was the end of the world, I didn't think we'd see daylight again.
00:32We ended up going into the hallway and huddled in a little cupboard, so we were in a built-in
00:36cupboard and saying prayers all night.
00:39At least 66 people were killed and many injured when the destructive storm tore the city apart
00:45on Christmas morning in 1974.
00:48Cyclone Tracey, the events are all very personal and individual.
00:54These ladies were children at the time, two sisters and their neighbour, sheltering together.
00:59We all grew up together and we went through Cyclone Tracey together and we just thought
01:04why not all come today and enjoy the day and go back to memories and we've already seen
01:10a lot of people and spoken a lot of memories haven't we, it's been great.
01:14Some survivors used the event to protest outside the gates, disappointed about a sculpture
01:20commissioned by the City of Darwin which they say doesn't speak to them.
01:25A sentiment shared by others who attended.
01:28It's not significant for Cyclone Tracey and what happened to us and it doesn't have any
01:34meaning for me.
01:35I'm not saying it's not beautiful and the artist isn't talented, it's just not what
01:40I thought it would be.
01:42The artist flew home to New Zealand before the service, leaving a video message.
01:47It's my hope that this sculpture, Coriolis, makes a positive impact in this landscape
01:54and with this community.
01:56The Prime Minister has said in a statement that he understands and appreciates the significance
02:01of the 50th anniversary of Cyclone Tracey and that he'll be attending an event on Christmas
02:06Day.
02:07During the service a message from King Charles was also read aloud, sharing memories of a
02:13visit shortly after the cyclone and paying tribute to the resilience of locals.