ST JOHN NT
NEWSROOM

St John NT has recognised the first responders who answered the call of duty to care for the sick and injured amongst the widespread destruction and devastation in the wake of Cyclone Tracy and mark a significant moment in the history of its service to the Northern Territory.

The Cyclone Tracy commemorative sign and website unveiled today tells the stories of St John Volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to deliver first aid and support the community, even when they themselves had lost so much.

On duty the night of 24 December 1974 was a team of volunteers staffing the station and emergency communications. Enduring sheeting rain and a near miss after the communications tower collapsed across the staircase when they were en route to take shelter in the bottom half of the building, many of the team did not return to their own homes until days after the cyclone. For some of them there was nothing left to return to, their homes destroyed, and possessions lost.

Emerging from the crew room downstairs at sunup the team surveyed the damage and made preparations to receive the injured and sick. That Christmas morning 25 December 1974, St John’s Northern Territory Headquarters in Parap quickly became a major first aid post staffed by St John Volunteers and their families.

St John NT CEO Andrew Tombs said that the crucial role St John played in the response to the cyclone was also significant for the service in the Northern Territory – marking a defining moment in its history.

“At the time of the cyclone, St John provided a volunteer ambulance service outside of business hours in Darwin, supporting the Darwin Hospital and operating out of the Parap Ambulance Station,” Mr Tombs said.

“While Christmas Eve 1974 will always be remembered for the tragic impact of Cyclone Tracy on Darwin, it also presented the defining moment that St John transformed from a volunteer service to the full ambulance service provider in Darwin as it was granted control of all ambulance services in Darwin, including ambulances belonging to the Department of Health.”

Now 50 years later St John NT continues to operate the ambulance service and remains steadfast in its mission to save lives and build community resilience.

“All of those who came together in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy and contributed to this effort, even after losing so much are to be commended,” Mr Tombs said.

The Cyclone Tracy commemorative sign can be viewed at our Parap Station, 57 Ross Smith Ave, with more information about the volunteers and staff who played a role and their stories available here

A special thanks to those who have supported this project including City of Darwin, Nortruss Hardware, SECA Structural Engineering, AB Consulting and Brainium Labs, without which this project would not have been possible.