1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: Now, as you would have heard on the show over 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: recent days, we've taken a lot of calls from Cyclone 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: Tracy survivors in recent days, yesterday particularly unhappy with the 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,239 Speaker 1: council's decision to continue ahead with what they are now 5 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: describing as a public artwork at Bundilla Beach. Now. The 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: Remembering Cyclone Tracy Committee, though, is today due to hold 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: a media event in view of recent controversy over the 8 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 1: Cyclone Tracy memorial, and they're going to be revealing the 9 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: memorial that they had proposed for erection at East Point. 10 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: The memorial as we know it is well, it sounded 11 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 1: like it was going to be spectacular. Joining us in 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: the studio right now to talk a little bit more 13 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: about this is Richard Creswick, the chair of Remembering Cyclone Tracy. 14 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, rich At. 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. Thanks again for having me on. 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: Richard. 17 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: I bet you're thinking to yourself, goodness me, you've had 18 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: more media in the last week than you probably imagined. 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 3: It's been. It's been an interesting time. And you know 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 3: what they say about the adult is proverb may you 21 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: live in them? 22 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, look it has been a very interesting time. Now, 23 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: why have you decided to hold the media event today. 24 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 3: We had Techi's proposal put to us, and we have 25 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,839 Speaker 3: shown it around to many many people, to almost universal 26 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 3: love and appreciation, but we had not put it out 27 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 3: to the public, and Techi felt and we agreed that 28 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: she at least should have the right to have her 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: her vision out in the public for the public to see, acknowledge, 30 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 3: and hopefully support, even though it's difficult. 31 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Look, I agree, I actually think it's a really good 32 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: idea for people to be able to see what she 33 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: had proposed and what she would do if there was. 34 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: More funding that six hundred thousand. 35 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: It was nice about that. 36 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you know, I like what I love is 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: the idea behind it as well, that's sort of emerging 38 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: out of you know, out of the water as well. 39 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: At low tide it would have been spectacular, and even 40 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,679 Speaker 3: at high tide, just you know, sitting sticking out of 41 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 3: the water, it would have been it would have been 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: a major tourist attraction. But as you say, we we 43 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: we could not raise the six hundred thousand, So our 44 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 3: fallback position became Techi's second element, which is what we've 45 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 3: been calling the Frangipani flowers and they would be on land. 46 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: Yeah. 47 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: Now, Richard, I know that you're bound by confidentiality being 48 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: on the on the committee that is obviously trying your 49 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: best to work with counsel on you know, on everything 50 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: that's being planned for the fiftieth anniversary commemorations. 51 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: Look, I suppose I for me earlier in. 52 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: The week, I was quite surprised by some of what 53 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: the Lord Mayor had said. And please just tell me. 54 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: You can't talk about something if I if I ask 55 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: you something that you can't answer. But the Lord Mayor, 56 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: I mean, had essentially said that the reason that they've 57 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: gone with this public kinetic art work at Bundilla Beach 58 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: is because that was what the committee, what you. 59 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: Guys have wanted. Are you able to comment on that 60 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: in any. 61 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: Way only to say that there's a little bit of 62 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 3: fudging going on there, that's all I can say about that. 63 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 64 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: In terms of and again you and I did speak 65 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: about this last week in terms of the amount of 66 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: money now that's going to a connectic art work at 67 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: Bundela Beach comparatively, because that's what the Lord Mayor has 68 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: now described it as as a public artwork at Bundela Beach. 69 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: He said, it is not for Cyclone Tracy. So when 70 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: you look at the amount of funding that's in going 71 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:56,119 Speaker 1: towards that comparatively to a memorial for Cyclone Tracy, does 72 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: that seem unfair. 73 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 3: We would like to propose that the the the city 74 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 3: Council work with us and on putting up our proposal, 75 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 3: our proposed memorial. Now they say they're committed to the 76 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 3: to the kinetic sculpture. That's locked in as far as 77 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 3: they're concerned. The money from the federal government, which of 78 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 3: course we we believe was going to a Cyclone Tracing memorial, 79 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 3: which which the monument is now not. It's no longer 80 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: a memorial to Cyclone Tracy, as was clearly stated originally, 81 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 3: it's now a public artwork. But that's that is apparently 82 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: locked in as well. So we are back to funding 83 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 3: our own proposals ourself. Yeah, there was just one other thing. 84 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 3: The the Lord Mayor did did talk about some money 85 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 3: to us for landsc gaping or whatever associated with our 86 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: our sculptures. We as I understand it, that money. There 87 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 3: is no money that has not been committed, and the 88 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 3: council has has not given my committee any money whatsoever 89 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 3: for this proposal. 90 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: He made it sound to me on Tuesday there was 91 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: going to be two hundred thousand dollars going towards east Point. 92 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: Has that figure ever been raised with you guys? 93 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 3: Know? And as I understand it, it does not exist. Yeah. 94 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: Look there, my mind is blowing over this whole situation, 95 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: I think, Richard, and I know it is for so 96 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: many people that are Cyclone Tracy survivors. And I think 97 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,679 Speaker 1: probably the most important thing for me over the last 98 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: couple of weeks has been that it's actually like this 99 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: whole situation has made me realize how important it is 100 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: that we actually get it right. I've had a number 101 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 1: of people speak to me over the last couple of 102 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: days who can hardly even speak about their experience following 103 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: on from Cyclone Tracy because it is still so emotional 104 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: for them. 105 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 2: And I do wonder in some ways whether. 106 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 1: This really hasn't been treated with the respect that it 107 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: actually deserves. You know, that maybe the council didn't, you know, 108 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: they haven't. They don't seem to have gotten this right 109 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: from my perspective, that is my perspective. But actually, you know, 110 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: sitting down and making sure that we do because it 111 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: means so much to so many people, whether you're a 112 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: Cyclone Tracy survivor or not. 113 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 3: Well, we we, as you know, formed as a committee 114 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 3: out of the Cyclone Tracy Survivor's Facebook page in January 115 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 3: last year. We approached the city Council and the government 116 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: and various other government bodies about supporting us in our 117 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: proposals for Cyclone Tracy commemoration, saying that we would we 118 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 3: wanted to represent the survivors and ensure that their voice 119 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 3: as were heard and respected. Council told us after six 120 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 3: or seven months that they wouldn't be supporting us, and 121 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 3: they financially or in any other way, but they were 122 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 3: forming their own committee, which is how come that the 123 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 3: council's committee was formed. I've been in that I was 124 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 3: invited to be on that committee representing Cyclone Tracy survivors, 125 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 3: but or my committee representing remembering Cyclone Tracy. 126 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: But I have. 127 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 3: When I've not felt that our voices in fact were heard. 128 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, I'd wondered that I had really 129 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: wondered that earlier in the week after the discussion with 130 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: the Lord Mayor, I felt as though you guys, and 131 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: these are my words, certainly not yours, but i'd felt 132 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: as so you guys have been thrown under the bus 133 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: a little bit, to to put it pretty bluntly, and 134 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: I actually, you know again, I also I think we've 135 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: got to get this right. And I know that it's 136 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: so important to you, to all of the other Cyclone 137 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: Tracy survivors. I do just want to I want to 138 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: just read this press release out that came out from 139 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: the Prime Minister earlier this year in relation to to 140 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: Bundulla Beach and that funding proposal. Because it sees fifty 141 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: years after Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, the Albanezi and Lawla 142 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: governments are going to honor the memory of those who 143 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: died and those whose lives were irrevocably changed with a 144 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: permanent monument and separate permanent memorial in Darwin. 145 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 2: That press release. 146 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: Reads the Australian Government is giving a total of six 147 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars to the Northern Territory Government to work 148 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: in partnership with stakeholders to install a kinetic monument at 149 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: Bundilla Beach as well as a memorial designed by a 150 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: local artist at East Point. So to me, that is 151 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: six hundred thousand dollars that should be going towards well 152 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 1: Cyclone Tracy and a memorial and a monument to Cyclone Tracy. 153 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: To me, that pressure release does not say that it's 154 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: going towards a kinectic art work and to redevelop Bundilla Beach. Again, 155 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: my words not yours, but I feel you know, I 156 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: feel for you guys, because I really do believe that 157 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: we have to get this right. 158 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 3: The issues there as it stands at this moment, there 159 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 3: are several issues for us. One is around the funding 160 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 3: for that proposed memorial in the sea. The second is 161 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 3: the hoops we have to have to jump through if 162 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 3: that were to go ahead. The Aboriginaria's Protection Authority wants 163 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 3: once is required to issue an authority. Now, we had 164 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 3: early indications from them as far back as March that 165 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 3: there were no sacred sites implications. I've spoken to representatives 166 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 3: of the relevant aboriginal organizations, no sacred sites implications at all. 167 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: But the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics requires that 168 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 3: we get an upper certificate, an upper authority to guarantee 169 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 3: that there are no sacred sites in it. Now, this 170 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 3: proposal takes up the space of about a cricket pitch 171 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 3: on the rocky reef looking out over from East Point. 172 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 3: We're not marine biologists, experts, or even oceanographic experts, so 173 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 3: we can't talk about things like erosion, things like impacts 174 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 3: on wading shore birds, potential roosting places, turtle, turtle hatcheries 175 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 3: or whatever. We can't talk about that because we don't know. 176 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 3: These are some of the issues that we are being 177 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 3: forced to confront. 178 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 2: Richard. Where to from. 179 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 4: Here short of of some major benefactor coming out, the 180 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 4: Council's made it clear that we will not get their money, 181 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 4: the Bundela Beach money, and that's understandable. 182 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 3: Short of a major benefactor coming up with six hundred thousand, 183 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 3: we will go with just the Frangipanni, the land based component, 184 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 3: which the Council have said, con has said and the 185 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 3: Council are working with us to ensure that that goes 186 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: at an appropriate place, and we really appreciate that because 187 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 3: that's important. But we now have the funding required for that, 188 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 3: following the Chief Minister's announcement of one hundred thousand dollars 189 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: to us and the Prime Minister's three hundred thousand, so 190 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 3: we're away and clear on that, and we just have 191 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 3: to now meet all the other requirements like site works, 192 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 3: traffic management, ensuring that people's safety is considered not the 193 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 3: rest of it. 194 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: Richard, we have just got a statement from the Member 195 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: for Solomon Luke Gosling. He has just issued a statement 196 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: and said earlier this year, the Australian Government announce sday 197 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: total six hundred thousand dollars in funding towards a permanent 198 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: monument at Bundilla Beach and separate permanent memorial at East 199 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: Point in Darwin to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Cyclone Tracy. 200 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,719 Speaker 1: Luke Goslin continues by saying, I'm aware of community feedback 201 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: and uncertainty around the planned City of Darwin project and 202 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: the distress that it has caused some survivors and those 203 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: connected to Cyclone Tracy. I've written to the City of 204 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: Darwin Lord Mayor and asked for clarity around their planned 205 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: permanent monument at Mandila Beach and how it relates to 206 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: the fiftieth anniversary of Cyclone Tracy. So look, we'll stay 207 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: on to this issue. Please keep us up to date 208 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: with how everything progresses as well. I appreciate you coming 209 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 1: back into the studio for the second time in a 210 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: few days. 211 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 3: That's look, Katie. We appreciate your interest in the topic 212 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 3: and in our project, and we really do appreciate your support. 213 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, anytime, anytime. Thank you so much 214 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: for your time this morning. 215 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: We'll talk to you again soon. 216 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 3: Thanks, thank you.