Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we are certainly covering off on the Cyclone Tracy
anniversary as we edged closer to the fiftieth. And my
next guest is one of my beautiful loyal listeners. Her
name is Frida and well Frida Brocker. She is a
Cyclone Tracy survivor. She was knitting a cardigan the night
before the devastating storm struck for her two year old daughter, Brenda,
(00:23):
who also joins me in the studio this morning. Good
morning to you both.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning Katie, Good morning Katy.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's lovely to have you in the studio, both of you. Freda,
lovely to see you this morning. Thank you so very
much for joining us. Now tell me what was it
like on Christmas Eve in Darwin back in nineteen seventy four.
Talk me through what you were doing that night.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh night, I had television on and I was a
pink and white cardigan and my daughter and that, and
I was listening to that, and they said something Saint
Mary's the cathedral there in the city and that, and
then the wind was getting stronger and that, and and
(01:13):
I thought, oh, okay, you know, I don't like this.
My husband had gone to bed and they were in
bed and that, and so I thought, I'll put a thermist.
I'll get a thermist of hot water and I'll put
it in the sink and we'll have coffee in the morning.
So I have to worry, you know, with that. But
(01:38):
then the wind got very strong and that, so I
got them out of bed and that, and then I
heard them say on Mary's that they're going to send
the people home because the wind was so strong they
weren't going to have what they were having there for St.
Mary's massive and so about eleven o'clock it would have
(02:03):
been that they got the people to be going home
because of that. You know, they said that the cyclone
cyclone was innimant. Now I never understood that word, you know,
that time. And so I thought I'd better get some
things organized and that, just a few things. But yeah,
(02:26):
they got stronger and my husband came out and things
and that, and then they said, I'll go and shelter,
shelter in the They used to always say, go and
shelter in the toilet. Well, we got under a bed first,
we stayed there. We would have been all right, but
the roof came off of that one. You heard the
roof coming off so we got out from underneath that
(02:49):
bed and we went into that toilet and that with
the mattress, because they said you go in there, you
take a mattress in there, and they we think so
it was, but the toilet was on the outside the house,
but those days, that's how most of them were, even
the territory housing ones, you know that. Anyway, And so
(03:13):
we got into there and then all of a sudden
there was this almighty crash. And it happened to be
I found out later on because something flew through and
hit hit my leg. I found out later on it
was the house at the back. They just finished building it,
(03:36):
and that not long ago. That yeah, waken that and
the roof came off and flew into the toilet there
and smashed into my leg. Whatever it was, it might
have been the toilet, It could have been a noddin
out of the wall. Yeah, you know, anything, but I
held I was holding Brenda at the time, and I
(03:57):
sort of I must have Imber's throwing her into the
mattress there, because my husband came running in and he
picked up the screaming child and that and after that
I ran, I got under another mattress, but then I
panicked again and I ran out, but I fell over
(04:20):
in the mud. I fell over in the mud, and
I remember I got I got up. Just a drenaline
just sets in. You just don't have any fear, nothing,
you would run in there, got into one car, our car,
and our car wouldn't start because probably power lines helped down.
(04:45):
I don't really know him. Anyway, we got into the
other car and we stayed there. He was I was
on the floor, then Brenda and then he was on top.
You know. We stayed there because the windscreen went in
the first car.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So freda goodness to.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Do that nice stayed there. He tore my dress and
put a tour on a key around my leg and
that because I didn't know what it was at the
time or anything like that. Were laying laying there, and
then when it got like, said I'll go and I'll
have a look. First of all, he wanted to have
(05:26):
a look in the place and say, oh, I wring
the police. Well there was no fai and there was
nothing dead. Everything had gone out, everything had gone out
against the fence. And so he said, I walked to
the police station. So he went off to walk to
the police station. And then two men came around then
(05:47):
I don't know who they were or anything like that, strangers,
and they offered me a drink of wine. I said, no,
thank you, I do.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Not even a cyclone was going to make you have
a wine at that point.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Nothing. Oh, anyway, we did get eventually into the hospital.
The car did start in the morning, yep. It was
very strange because it wouldn't start, but then it did stay.
And then we got out and we got to the hospital.
(06:23):
There we picked up a nurse on the way or
somebody nick knew something and took her with us and
that and I got straight in there, and I know
what they tried to do there. They may have tried
to stitch it or something like that, but I remember
being in a bed. He had branda at that time
(06:44):
and everything. And then from there I was told I
was going on a plane going to be sent down
to Sydney the emergency on the first one and that
and so yeah, so I was going down to Sydney
at first, and then but on the plane they changed that.
(07:10):
But in the meantime, my daughter was handed over to
the captain at the first Hercules. She was handed over
because they wanted him to stay and do work. So
he handed her over with just nothing around the leg
probably then I don't know, and to Charlie and and
(07:35):
after that, I didn't know where I thought she was
back in well, and that I did not know. I
did not know anything in the hospital there. Down were
changed from going from to Sydney to Brisbane, so we
landed in Brisbane. So I don't remember anything about.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
What was it. What was it like for you, you know,
being taken not knowing where you were being taken and
not knowing where your baby was.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Well, I think I was probably sedated and that, yeah,
you know, yeah, because I naturally I just thought she
was in Darwin, Yeah, you know, and that was it.
I know, I know, it's horrendous to think with that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
It's you know, from what you've just said, that is
such a traumatic experience in so many different ways in
terms of your injuries. What ended up like how extensive
for your injuries?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Well, I had done in Bridgbane there, I had many
many operations in the hospital there. The family came in
and brought Branda in. I remember seeing her there. Then
they took her again, quite a few operations on it
and that, but yeah, but then then I had what
(09:07):
they called drop foot yep, yeah, where your foot drops
over and it won't come back. You can't get it back.
I have that im plaster and everything like that. Freem
I was in there. And then yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
When you when you then saw Brenda for the first
time and saw that she was okay as well, and
saw that she had been looked after, you must have
felt an enormous sense of relief.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Maybe there, I probably was, because they brought her in
in a pretty blue dress and because we had no clothing,
we had absolutely nothing for her there this Salvation family.
Because when when got off the plane, she was handed
(10:01):
by the ones on the plane. Your captain obviously too,
was involved with it. Captain to Ali and yeah, she
was handed to a lady Beulah Harris from the Salvation
Army and then she got on to some they had
other people which took her and everything like that.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
And so so your your husband stayed back in Darwin
and helped to Yes, he held I don't know too
much with him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
He never really talked about it, you know, he never
really talked about but I do know that he was
in Catherine where you had to have a green card
to be able to come back into dar right. He
was doing all that at first. He worked at the
Blood Miller School, handing out the formula and everything for
(10:56):
the babies and children.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
And that and so so, Brenda, you were a salvation Army.
Family looked after you at that point in time, and
so for how long do you know? How long do
you reckon? It was free?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
We came. I came back on the nineteenth of March, yeah,
and I stayed three days. Couldn't handle it with a
two year old. So we're back down to Brisbane, yeah,
weren't we? And picked her up again in end of
(11:37):
June sometime. Yeah, but that was my hardest party, just
to leave her again and come back.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
You know, so I believe they looked after me for
about six months, wasn't it, mon Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, I'll move that microphone a tiny bit closer to
you there, Brenda. Yeah, so about six months? And what's
your what's it been like for you in terms of
the family that or the two that helped to care
for you. You treat them now?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Yeah, As I said earlier, they've now deceased, so unfortunately,
but they became like my Nan and Pop over many
years and we'd always go and visit them at least
like once a year, and yeah, they became like an
extended family pretty much, and which continued. Yeah, we still
have one that's still alive. Yeah, we're still stay in
touch with them. So, yeah, they became part of our family.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And Freda, it must have been, like I mean, at
that point in time, was an absolute necessity for them
to be able to help you, I would imagine definitely. Yes,
you know, when you look when you think back at
what happened now and when you think of, you know,
the trauma of that night, the trauma of having to
(12:49):
go away, of not being really too sure where Brenda was,
it must have been so hard on you and just yeah,
just such a something that I think for most of
us we can't even imagine it. We can't even comprehend.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
No, no, And you're seeing those photos now that tag
around her leading the paper. Yeah, all that, you know,
and that's really sad when you.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
When you look at the way that you know that
Darwin has now been able to recover and the work
that's had to go into to Darwin being able to recover,
but also when you look at the resilient people that
are here and that still live here. How does that
sort of make you feel through through what's been such
(13:44):
a tough time.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Do you look at the place.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
And think, what an amazing you know, what an amazing feat?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah? Oh when it gets around about that time, Yeah,
you get scared when you're you're always making sure you're
listening to what is going on closely and that. Yeah,
you will also have things you know you never forget,
(14:13):
you never. I still have trouble my leg. I still
to this day. Yeah, I'm no running around that time.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah. Yeah, and freedom, how do you feel as we
go into the fiftieth you know, anniversary of cyclone? Tracy,
isn't it? Is it quite a tough time for you? Yeah,
look I can tell. And I'm so grateful that you
come in to share your story with me. I know
(14:41):
that you know you are a very loyal listener to
our show and.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I I won't be able to listen tomorrow, and we'll
let you, We'll let you, We'll let you off from
listening for a day tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I'll forgive your freedom. But I first met you a
couple of years ago at your eighteenth birthday. That's nice,
And I found out then that you're a cyclone tracy
survival when I met your beautiful family, and I know
it's not an easy thing to talk about. So I
really appreciate you coming in this morning and and and
(15:19):
telling us your story, and and and bringing Brenda with you.
I think it's it's beautiful to think now, you know,
you look look at you both grown up obviously all
grown up, Brenda, but you know, to think of of
what your family has been through, it's, you know, it's
true testament to the territory spirit. Really that you that
you both.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Still live here, living here. Yeah, we're still here.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, I love that. And like and you know, when
you think of the way that Darwin's you know, has
been able to recover and the resilience of the people
that live here. You know, you hear that term territory tough,
but gee whiz, we are like people are truly territory tough.
It doesn't get much tougher than you. Freda. I tell you.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Funny things in the story, dude, because I forgot to
tell you about you. When I was in the hospital
there in the bed there as I said, I said,
I must have been all right. I said, I'm not
going without my teeth. I'm not. They couldn't find no
(16:33):
my husband foul.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Lucky, lucky. I wouldn't go without my It's lovely to
have you both in the studio. Brenda and Frida Brocker.
Thank you so much for your time. I really really
appreciate you coming in and sharing your story. Thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Kate, lovely, thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
He laid a fine
Now we are certainly covering off on the Cyclone Tracy
anniversary as we edged closer to the fiftieth. And my
next guest is one of my beautiful loyal listeners. Her
name is Frida and well Frida Brocker. She is a
Cyclone Tracy survivor. She was knitting a cardigan the night
before the devastating storm struck for her two year old daughter, Brenda,
(00:23):
who also joins me in the studio this morning. Good
morning to you both.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good morning Katie, Good morning Katy.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's lovely to have you in the studio, both of you. Freda,
lovely to see you this morning. Thank you so very
much for joining us. Now tell me what was it
like on Christmas Eve in Darwin back in nineteen seventy four.
Talk me through what you were doing that night.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh night, I had television on and I was a
pink and white cardigan and my daughter and that, and
I was listening to that, and they said something Saint
Mary's the cathedral there in the city and that, and
then the wind was getting stronger and that, and and
(01:13):
I thought, oh, okay, you know, I don't like this.
My husband had gone to bed and they were in
bed and that, and so I thought, I'll put a thermist.
I'll get a thermist of hot water and I'll put
it in the sink and we'll have coffee in the morning.
So I have to worry, you know, with that. But
(01:38):
then the wind got very strong and that, so I
got them out of bed and that, and then I
heard them say on Mary's that they're going to send
the people home because the wind was so strong they
weren't going to have what they were having there for St.
Mary's massive and so about eleven o'clock it would have
(02:03):
been that they got the people to be going home
because of that. You know, they said that the cyclone
cyclone was innimant. Now I never understood that word, you know,
that time. And so I thought I'd better get some
things organized and that, just a few things. But yeah,
(02:26):
they got stronger and my husband came out and things
and that, and then they said, I'll go and shelter,
shelter in the They used to always say, go and
shelter in the toilet. Well, we got under a bed first,
we stayed there. We would have been all right, but
the roof came off of that one. You heard the
roof coming off so we got out from underneath that
(02:49):
bed and we went into that toilet and that with
the mattress, because they said you go in there, you
take a mattress in there, and they we think so
it was, but the toilet was on the outside the house,
but those days, that's how most of them were, even
the territory housing ones, you know that. Anyway, And so
(03:13):
we got into there and then all of a sudden
there was this almighty crash. And it happened to be
I found out later on because something flew through and
hit hit my leg. I found out later on it
was the house at the back. They just finished building it,
(03:36):
and that not long ago. That yeah, waken that and
the roof came off and flew into the toilet there
and smashed into my leg. Whatever it was, it might
have been the toilet, It could have been a noddin
out of the wall. Yeah, you know, anything, but I
held I was holding Brenda at the time, and I
(03:57):
sort of I must have Imber's throwing her into the
mattress there, because my husband came running in and he
picked up the screaming child and that and after that
I ran, I got under another mattress, but then I
panicked again and I ran out, but I fell over
(04:20):
in the mud. I fell over in the mud, and
I remember I got I got up. Just a drenaline
just sets in. You just don't have any fear, nothing,
you would run in there, got into one car, our car,
and our car wouldn't start because probably power lines helped down.
(04:45):
I don't really know him. Anyway, we got into the
other car and we stayed there. He was I was
on the floor, then Brenda and then he was on top.
You know. We stayed there because the windscreen went in
the first car.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So freda goodness to.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Do that nice stayed there. He tore my dress and
put a tour on a key around my leg and
that because I didn't know what it was at the
time or anything like that. Were laying laying there, and
then when it got like, said I'll go and I'll
have a look. First of all, he wanted to have
(05:26):
a look in the place and say, oh, I wring
the police. Well there was no fai and there was
nothing dead. Everything had gone out, everything had gone out
against the fence. And so he said, I walked to
the police station. So he went off to walk to
the police station. And then two men came around then
(05:47):
I don't know who they were or anything like that, strangers,
and they offered me a drink of wine. I said, no,
thank you, I do.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Not even a cyclone was going to make you have
a wine at that point.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Nothing. Oh, anyway, we did get eventually into the hospital.
The car did start in the morning, yep. It was
very strange because it wouldn't start, but then it did stay.
And then we got out and we got to the hospital.
(06:23):
There we picked up a nurse on the way or
somebody nick knew something and took her with us and
that and I got straight in there, and I know
what they tried to do there. They may have tried
to stitch it or something like that, but I remember
being in a bed. He had branda at that time
(06:44):
and everything. And then from there I was told I
was going on a plane going to be sent down
to Sydney the emergency on the first one and that
and so yeah, so I was going down to Sydney
at first, and then but on the plane they changed that.
(07:10):
But in the meantime, my daughter was handed over to
the captain at the first Hercules. She was handed over
because they wanted him to stay and do work. So
he handed her over with just nothing around the leg
probably then I don't know, and to Charlie and and
(07:35):
after that, I didn't know where I thought she was
back in well, and that I did not know. I
did not know anything in the hospital there. Down were
changed from going from to Sydney to Brisbane, so we
landed in Brisbane. So I don't remember anything about.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
What was it. What was it like for you, you know,
being taken not knowing where you were being taken and
not knowing where your baby was.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Well, I think I was probably sedated and that, yeah,
you know, yeah, because I naturally I just thought she
was in Darwin, Yeah, you know, and that was it.
I know, I know, it's horrendous to think with that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
It's you know, from what you've just said, that is
such a traumatic experience in so many different ways in
terms of your injuries. What ended up like how extensive
for your injuries?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Well, I had done in Bridgbane there, I had many
many operations in the hospital there. The family came in
and brought Branda in. I remember seeing her there. Then
they took her again, quite a few operations on it
and that, but yeah, but then then I had what
(09:07):
they called drop foot yep, yeah, where your foot drops
over and it won't come back. You can't get it back.
I have that im plaster and everything like that. Freem
I was in there. And then yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
When you when you then saw Brenda for the first
time and saw that she was okay as well, and
saw that she had been looked after, you must have
felt an enormous sense of relief.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Maybe there, I probably was, because they brought her in
in a pretty blue dress and because we had no clothing,
we had absolutely nothing for her there this Salvation family.
Because when when got off the plane, she was handed
(10:01):
by the ones on the plane. Your captain obviously too,
was involved with it. Captain to Ali and yeah, she
was handed to a lady Beulah Harris from the Salvation
Army and then she got on to some they had
other people which took her and everything like that.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
And so so your your husband stayed back in Darwin
and helped to Yes, he held I don't know too
much with him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
He never really talked about it, you know, he never
really talked about but I do know that he was
in Catherine where you had to have a green card
to be able to come back into dar right. He
was doing all that at first. He worked at the
Blood Miller School, handing out the formula and everything for
(10:56):
the babies and children.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
And that and so so, Brenda, you were a salvation Army.
Family looked after you at that point in time, and
so for how long do you know? How long do
you reckon? It was free?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
We came. I came back on the nineteenth of March, yeah,
and I stayed three days. Couldn't handle it with a
two year old. So we're back down to Brisbane, yeah,
weren't we? And picked her up again in end of
(11:37):
June sometime. Yeah, but that was my hardest party, just
to leave her again and come back.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
You know, so I believe they looked after me for
about six months, wasn't it, mon Yeah?
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Yeah, I'll move that microphone a tiny bit closer to
you there, Brenda. Yeah, so about six months? And what's
your what's it been like for you in terms of
the family that or the two that helped to care
for you. You treat them now?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Yeah, As I said earlier, they've now deceased, so unfortunately,
but they became like my Nan and Pop over many
years and we'd always go and visit them at least
like once a year, and yeah, they became like an
extended family pretty much, and which continued. Yeah, we still
have one that's still alive. Yeah, we're still stay in
touch with them. So, yeah, they became part of our family.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And Freda, it must have been, like I mean, at
that point in time, was an absolute necessity for them
to be able to help you, I would imagine definitely. Yes,
you know, when you look when you think back at
what happened now and when you think of, you know,
the trauma of that night, the trauma of having to
(12:49):
go away, of not being really too sure where Brenda was,
it must have been so hard on you and just yeah,
just such a something that I think for most of
us we can't even imagine it. We can't even comprehend.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
No, no, And you're seeing those photos now that tag
around her leading the paper. Yeah, all that, you know,
and that's really sad when you.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
When you look at the way that you know that
Darwin has now been able to recover and the work
that's had to go into to Darwin being able to recover,
but also when you look at the resilient people that
are here and that still live here. How does that
sort of make you feel through through what's been such
(13:44):
a tough time.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Do you look at the place.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
And think, what an amazing you know, what an amazing feat?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah? Oh when it gets around about that time, Yeah,
you get scared when you're you're always making sure you're
listening to what is going on closely and that. Yeah,
you will also have things you know you never forget,
(14:13):
you never. I still have trouble my leg. I still
to this day. Yeah, I'm no running around that time.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah. Yeah, and freedom, how do you feel as we
go into the fiftieth you know, anniversary of cyclone? Tracy,
isn't it? Is it quite a tough time for you? Yeah,
look I can tell. And I'm so grateful that you
come in to share your story with me. I know
(14:41):
that you know you are a very loyal listener to
our show and.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I I won't be able to listen tomorrow, and we'll
let you, We'll let you, We'll let you off from
listening for a day tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
I'll forgive your freedom. But I first met you a
couple of years ago at your eighteenth birthday. That's nice,
And I found out then that you're a cyclone tracy
survival when I met your beautiful family, and I know
it's not an easy thing to talk about. So I
really appreciate you coming in this morning and and and
(15:19):
telling us your story, and and and bringing Brenda with you.
I think it's it's beautiful to think now, you know,
you look look at you both grown up obviously all
grown up, Brenda, but you know, to think of of
what your family has been through, it's, you know, it's
true testament to the territory spirit. Really that you that
you both.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Still live here, living here. Yeah, we're still here.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Yeah, I love that. And like and you know, when
you think of the way that Darwin's you know, has
been able to recover and the resilience of the people
that live here. You know, you hear that term territory tough,
but gee whiz, we are like people are truly territory tough.
It doesn't get much tougher than you. Freda. I tell you.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Funny things in the story, dude, because I forgot to
tell you about you. When I was in the hospital
there in the bed there as I said, I said,
I must have been all right. I said, I'm not
going without my teeth. I'm not. They couldn't find no
(16:33):
my husband foul.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
Lucky, lucky. I wouldn't go without my It's lovely to
have you both in the studio. Brenda and Frida Brocker.
Thank you so much for your time. I really really
appreciate you coming in and sharing your story. Thank you
so much.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
Kate, lovely, thank you.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
He laid a fine
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.