Cyclone Tracy and rebuilding of Darwin

I was living in Nightcliff when Tracy struck. The house where I lived was demolished down to the flooring of the first floor framing. The next days were spent checking the other houses in the area to see if everyone was safe. Making sure all the people in the area were OK. On the 27th December 1974, I moved out to Darwin Hospital (at Mylie Point) to start work on getting the hospital functioning again with John Holland Builders. We worked there for about 2 1/2 months. Being a builder by trade, it was the obvious thing for me to get involve in. After that I worked on repairing numerous hotels around Nightcliff area. Avanced then to June 1975, I joined the NT Government - Department of Transport and Works as a Construction Supervisor. Working within a team of Three, we started construction of 600 house contract in Anula and Wulagi areas. Once we got going, we were able to handover 8 new houses per week. Getting towards the end of this contract, this group of Three were given another contract to build 600 more houses in roughly the same area. Followed by another contract of 100 houses. When I look back I am very pleased to see all these houses are standing very well and bringing Darwin back to normal after the cyclone. by John Hulme? 25 Nov 2014?? 9.25 pm.?Lee, BeverleyThis story was made as part of the ABC Open and Northern Territory Library Cyclone Tracy storytelling workshop program