Next year marks 50 years since Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, devastating the city and profoundly impacting the community with over 70 per cent of homes destroyed and more than 70 lives lost.
To support the community in commemorating this historic event, City of Darwin has launched a Cyclone Tracy 50th Anniversary Commemoration Grants Program, with a collective value of $50,000 to go towards events and activities that honour one of the most significant occasions in Darwin’s history.
City of Darwin Chief Executive Officer Simone Saunders encouraged community groups and organisations of all sizes to apply.
“The grants program recognises the significance of Cyclone Tracy for the Darwin community, as well as assisting with the ongoing healing process for community members,” Ms Saunders said.
“The program is aimed at supporting community groups and organisations in holding events and activities to observe a crucial part of Darwin’s history.
“It will provide funding for not-for-profit events, activities and programs, including ceremonies, activations, exhibitions, live storytelling events, memorials and documentaries,” she said.
There are two grant options available, up to $1,000 for minor commemorative grants which could include small neighbourhood events or activities, and up to $5,000 per activity for major commemorative grants which could include events, activities or projects which involve the wider community.
Major commemorative grant activities could include educational programs or projects that involve commemorative artwork, research, story books, building community resilience, exhibitions, memorials or memorabilia.
Three program themes have been identified to help shape the activities and create cohesion across the program:
- ‘Commemorative’, which will provide opportunities for remembrance
- ‘Educational’ which will see programs inform and create learning opportunities for participants
- ‘Recognition’ which aims to create awareness, appreciation, and acknowledgment of survivors, their families, service officers, and all those who were affected.
“The Cyclone Tracy 50th Anniversary Commemoration Grants Program is designed to support and empower organisations to create activities that honour the memory of Cyclone Tracy and acknowledge its profound impact on the city,” Ms Saunders said.
“The events held will underpin an additional suite of activities, events and interactive projects that will take place during November and December 2024.
“City of Darwin encourages creative and thoughtful contributions to recognise Cyclone Tracy’s impact on the city and we are hoping to see events that will commemorate, educate and recognise the strength and resilience of the Darwin community,” she said.
The Cyclone Tracy Commemoration Advisory Committee is providing advice to City of Darwin’s Council on the commemoration program.
The Advisory Committee is made up representatives from:
- Community members
- City of Darwin Elected Members and Chief Executive Officer
- Australian Defence Force
- Larrakia Nation
- Library and Archives NT
- Museum Art Gallery NT
- NT Major Events Company
- NT Government.
To be eligible, activities must align with the Cyclone Tracy Commemoration Grant Program objectives and themes, demonstrate community benefit and involvement, take place within the municipality of Darwin, and be delivered before 28 February 2025.
Applications close Thursday 15 February 2024.
