It was the day before the cyclone was due to cross the coast; everyone was battening down, clearing away anything dangerous. Later in the afternoon the birds stopped singing and then the planes started up and took off from the airport - we all knew that we were in for "a big one." Channel 10 and 4TO were broadcasting all night and the siren wailing was eerie. The southern information was that the cyclone was going to cross the coast at lunch time but 4TO was on the ball warning all to stay inside as it would cross at 8am.
The winds were very strong during the night blowing in across from Cleveland Bay but we were not aware of the devastation to come. The eye passed over us just on 8am but the radio station had warned us not to be complacent as it would turn around and double back - and it did.
We lived in Tyrell Street in Gulliver and the only thing we noticed during this time was the house across the street had a loose sheet flapping on its roof and we had a couple of small branches off our back trees. When we were given the all clear we hopped in our car and drove down to the bottom of our street into Cambridge Street and there were houses wiped out. One house had its full front patio and stairs ripped off, thrown across the top of their house and onto the house in the next street.
The Aitkenvale Opportunity School was demolished and houses along Nathan Street were cut off at the floorboards. Down further, Lamont's house in Albert Street was also demolished on the top story and Tutt Bryant Warehouse, where McDonalds now sits, was also blown away. All over the city there was destruction - one house just off Ross River Road had its roof removed and the glass doors shattered and the large pieces of glass were imbeddd in the lounge room wall. Garbutt and West End did not fare any better. Houses in Pilkington Street and buildings in the industrial area behind Malanda Milk factory - Atlas Cop-Co, McDermott's and Firestone were destroyed. The Royal Hotel in West End lost most of its balcony and roof and a house down in the gully fell off its blocks and squashed the family car. There were so many people left without proper housing and yet we were lucky to have no damage. The amount of debris to be taken and buried was too much for the local council to handle and the Army and other forces were called out.
New dumps had to be found to clear the massive mess and the Council opened land to the left of the Causeway Bridge which filled up very quickly and then had to go across the road to where the Civic Theatre and the new Railway Station now stands. There were many suburbs that were so badly damaged on the beach side of the City that we were not permitted into the area to sightsee.
Food was short as the railway was cut between Townsville and Ayr but the RAAF helped by flying in fresh produce and milk. I had the only gas stove in our block so was able to provide cooking facilities for whoever needed them until the power was back on.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.