Mr KURRUPUWU - 2015-02-19
Today marks 73 years since the Bombing of Darwin. Can you reflect on the meaning of this day to Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. It was good to see you at the service this morning at the USS Peary memorial, as well as at the Bombing of Darwin service this morning. I know what happened 73 years ago is very close to your heart as a Tiwi man, because the Tiwi people were the first to see the Japanese planes approaching and give advance warning of the air raids that were to occur throughout Darwin.
Today is the anniversary of a critical moment in Darwin’s history, but also of our nation’s. It was the day war came to Australia for the first time, when the Territory came under Japanese attack. The bombs rained down on the city and the harbour, killing hundreds on that day, 19 February 1942. Only in recent years has this devastation started to become more widely known in the Australian history books as people have their knowledge corrected – that the first military attacks were not in Sydney Harbour by Japanese submarines. They were, in fact, on 19 February 1942 with the raids on Darwin killing so many people.
It is interesting when you reflect on the cyclonic conditions facing many Territorians across the top of Arnhem Land, in your electorates, members for Arafura, Nhulunbuy and Arnhem. I recall how the Territory’s cultural landscape has developed through trial and tribulation, bombings, cyclones and devastation where Territorians came together, put their shoulders to the wheel and bonded together as a community. It did not matter if you were Aboriginal, a Tiwi Islander, black, white or Greek; people came together. That has been the making of the Northern Territory, from the past to today, where everyone is a Territorian.
I have been fortunate enough to live in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, have my home in Alice Springs and spend all my time in Darwin now. Wherever I have been, including travels in other parts of Australia and the world, this is the place where multiculturalism prevails, whether you have a Chinese or Indonesian background, or Aboriginal or Tiwi Islander, everyone here is a Territorian.
Those tough times have brought people together, as I said, with shoulders to the wheel. As we think of those in the cyclone area now, we all jump in and help each other out, which is what happened on 19 February 1942. Darwin and the Territory is a better place for it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for the question. It was good to see you at the service this morning at the USS Peary memorial, as well as at the Bombing of Darwin service this morning. I know what happened 73 years ago is very close to your heart as a Tiwi man, because the Tiwi people were the first to see the Japanese planes approaching and give advance warning of the air raids that were to occur throughout Darwin.
Today is the anniversary of a critical moment in Darwin’s history, but also of our nation’s. It was the day war came to Australia for the first time, when the Territory came under Japanese attack. The bombs rained down on the city and the harbour, killing hundreds on that day, 19 February 1942. Only in recent years has this devastation started to become more widely known in the Australian history books as people have their knowledge corrected – that the first military attacks were not in Sydney Harbour by Japanese submarines. They were, in fact, on 19 February 1942 with the raids on Darwin killing so many people.
It is interesting when you reflect on the cyclonic conditions facing many Territorians across the top of Arnhem Land, in your electorates, members for Arafura, Nhulunbuy and Arnhem. I recall how the Territory’s cultural landscape has developed through trial and tribulation, bombings, cyclones and devastation where Territorians came together, put their shoulders to the wheel and bonded together as a community. It did not matter if you were Aboriginal, a Tiwi Islander, black, white or Greek; people came together. That has been the making of the Northern Territory, from the past to today, where everyone is a Territorian.
I have been fortunate enough to live in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, have my home in Alice Springs and spend all my time in Darwin now. Wherever I have been, including travels in other parts of Australia and the world, this is the place where multiculturalism prevails, whether you have a Chinese or Indonesian background, or Aboriginal or Tiwi Islander, everyone here is a Territorian.
Those tough times have brought people together, as I said, with shoulders to the wheel. As we think of those in the cyclone area now, we all jump in and help each other out, which is what happened on 19 February 1942. Darwin and the Territory is a better place for it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016