DARWIN REMEMBERS CYCLONE TRACY’s 40TH ANNIVERSARY

christianreview | 입력 : 2014/12/12 [07:09]
Ramon Williams is a missionary photographer, with Worldwide Photos, and had a two-fold interest in the effects of Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin, Christmas Day, 1974. His brother-in-law, Mervyn Pattemore, was at the Retta Dixon Children’s Home in Darwin and Mervyn’s daughter, Joy, was with Ramon in Sydney. She became alarmed when she could not contact her family, so Ramon said he would see what he could do to help.

As photographer and journalist for the Religious Media in Australia, he approached the RAAF and was given permission to go to Darwin on a Hercules taking in a team of power workers with their trucks and gear, on Saturday 28th December.
 
At Darwin airport he photographed the Salvos providing comfort and care to those evacuating the city.

He was able to reach the Retta Dixon Homes, where he borrowed a car and visited all the churches in the city. His photos and report covered every denomination. On the Sunday, he was even able to phone a report to Radio 2CH in Sydney, which was aired several times that day.
 
On Sunday he photographed the combined church service in the United Church. The Rev Fred Mackay had been able to fly into Darwin and supplied sao biscuits and cordial for the communion service.

Ramon had a friend, Betty Watcham, with the Red Cross, so made contact with her to let her family know she was OK. At the Red Cross headquarters Ramon saw a lot of human interest activities taking place, so asked if it was OK for him to photograph the Red Cross activities. When this was approved, he accompanied Betty Watcham throughout the day.
 
They searched for missing people; found and transported lonely people in need, including one man who badly needed a shower and clean clothes. Two nurses had volunteered at the Red Cross Headquarters and they were able to clean him up before his evacuation that afternoon.

At “Check Point Charlie” people leaving the city had their names registered by Red Cross workers with the Tracing Department and the vehicles checked by Police. It was amazing how many “John Smiths”, “Mickey Mouse” and “Donald Ducks” lived in Darwin.
 
Ramon photographed more general scenes on the Monday and was able to register four Pattemore children for evacuation on the last RAAF flight, Tuesday, 31st December, 1974.

Now, 40 years later, the photos taken have shown a historical record of the after-effects of Cyclone Tracy, in a Red Cross Exhibition, in Darwin. For many there have been difficult memories but the visual impact has shown many others what happened and how Red Cross workers. volunteers and the Salvos, cared for those at a time of need.
 
PHOTOS BY Ramon Williams  (hi-res available on request)
 
E667-015    Commissioner Margarite Warren comforts a little one
E667-039    Communion Service in United Church
E667-147    Betty Watcham helps a man in need
E667-195    Check-point Charlie
E667-243    Gwenyth Pattemore in good hands
 
 
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