Institutional Response and Indigenous Experiences of Cyclone Tracy
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This may be the author’s version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source: Haynes, Katharine, Bird, Deanne, Carson, Dean, Larkin, Steve, & Mason, Matthew (2011) Institutional response and Indigenous experiences of Cyclone Tracy. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Australia. This file was downloaded from: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/73330/ c Copyright 2011 National Climate Change Adaptation Research Fa- cility This work is covered by copyright. Unless the document is being made available under a Creative Commons Licence, you must assume that re-use is limited to personal use and that permission from the copyright owner must be obtained for all other uses. If the docu- ment is available under a Creative Commons License (or other specified license) then refer to the Licence for details of permitted re-use. It is a condition of access that users recog- nise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. 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If there is any doubt, please refer to the published source. http:// www.nccarf.edu.au/ publications/ adaptation-lessons-cyclone-tracy-part-ii-institutional-response-and-indigenous Case Study Adaptation lessons from Cyclone Tracy Part II: Institutional response and Indigenous experiences of Cyclone Tracy Adaptation Lessons from Cyclone Tracy Part 2: Institutional response and Indigenous experiences of Cyclone Tracy Authors: .DWKDULQH+D\QHV 'HDQQH.%LUG 'HDQ&DUVRQ 6WHYH/DUNLQ 0DWWKHZ0DVRQ LY Published by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 2011 ISBN: 978-1-921609-39-8 NCCARF Publication 15/11 Australian copyright law applies. For permission to reproduce any part of this document, please approach the authors. Please cite this report as: Haynes, K, Bird, DK, Carson, D, Larkin, S & Mason, M 2011, Institutional response and Indigenous experiences of Cyclone Tracy, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, 79 pp. Acknowledgement We would like to thank all the participants who gave up their time to share their stories of Cyclone Tracy. This research would not have been possible without their support and enthusiasm. We are grateful to the following organisations that assisted us with recruiting interview participants: the Emotional and Social Well Being Division of Danila Dilba, the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Warddeken Land Management Limited, the Stolen Generation and the Northern Land Council. We would like to extend a special thank you to Shelley Hampton at Danila Dilba. We are also indebted to the Northern Territory Archives Service for their assistance in sourcing relevant documents, and in particular, Francoise Barr who became an honorary member of the research team! This work was carried out with financial support from the Australian Government (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) and the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) with additional funding from the Queensland Government, Griffith University, Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology, James Cook University, The University of Newcastle, Murdoch University, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast. The role of NCCARF is to lead the research community in a national interdisciplinary effort to generate the information needed by decision-makers in government and in vulnerable sectors and communities to manage the risk of climate change impacts. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication not necessarily the views of the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein. Title page image: Rover Thomas [Joolama] Kukatja/Wangkajunga peoples, 1926/1928 Australia – 1998, Cyclone Tracy 1991, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Purchased 1991 © the artist's estate courtesy Warmun Art Centre Cover image: Leaving Darwin © National Archives Australia. … it’s been on my mind for so long. Thank you so much for coming I didn’t think anyone was interested. We have never been interviewed for it and it’s my privilege to do that, and I’m happy 5HVSRQGHQW Y Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................. 1 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 4 1.1 Aims of the study .............................................................................................. 4 2. METHODS ............................................................................... 5 2.1 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 5 2.2 Census data collection and analysis ................................................................ 5 2.3 Data collection from oral history transcripts ..................................................... 5 2.4 Data collection via face-to-face interviewing .................................................... 5 2.4.1 Ethics approval process ............................................................................ 7 3. LITERATURE REVIEW OF INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE .... 8 3.1 Natural disaster organisation, political changes and barriers to adaptation ..... 8 3.2 The evacuation of Darwin ............................................................................... 10 3.3 Post cyclone Tracy years ............................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Impact on behaviour ................................................................................ 13 3.3.2 Land use planning and building codes .................................................... 14 3.4 Cyclone Tracy’s impact on disaster research ................................................. 15 3.5 Summary ........................................................................................................ 16 4. LITERATURE REVIEW OF DISASTERS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY ................................. 19 5. DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-POLITICAL CONTEXT ........ 23 5.1 Nature of the community in Darwin prior to Cyclone Tracy ............................ 23 5.2 Census data ................................................................................................... 25 6. INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCE OF CYCLONE TRACY IN DARWIN ......................................................................................... 28 6.1 Demographics of respondents ....................................................................... 28 6.2 Experience of past cyclones, warnings, risk awareness and preparedness .. 29 6.3 Traditional cultural knowledge /natural warnings ........................................... 32 6.4 Loss of cultural knowledge and identity .......................................................... 33 6.5 Indigenous people at risk ............................................................................... 35 6.6 Experience of the event .................................................................................. 36 6.7 Aftermath: Entering a world of total devastation ............................................. 38 6.7.1 The hospital ............................................................................................. 39 6.7.2 Searching for family ................................................................................ 39 6.8 Rumours regarding an inaccurate body count and mass graves ................... 40 6.9 Indigenous people assisting in response and recovery .................................. 45 6.10 The involvement of General Stretton, the Army and Navy ......................... 46 6.11 The evacuation ........................................................................................... 46 6.11.1 The evacuation of Darwin as reported in the transcripts ......................... 46 6.11.2 Aboriginal people evacuated back to their communities ......................... 48 6.11.3 Need or fear to evacuate ......................................................................... 49 6.11.4 Scattered families .................................................................................... 50 6.12 Racial issues that arose during the disaster ............................................... 50 6.13 Assistance immediately following the cyclone ............................................ 52 6.14 Assistance once back in Darwin – longer term recovery ............................ 53 6.15 Returning to Darwin .................................................................................... 56 6.15.1 Difficulties experienced in returning to Darwin ........................................ 57 6.15.2 Who returned and who didn’t .................................................................. 58 6.15.3 Connection to country and community .................................................... 58 6.16 Cyclone as a punishment ........................................................................... 59 6.17 Change in Darwin after the cyclone ............................................................ 60 6.18 Discussions of personal experiences