Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I tell you what one thing that everybody is happy
with when we talk about the way in which we
are remembering Cyclone Tracy is the Museum and Art Galleries exhibition.
And we know that the Cyclone Tracy exhibition at the
Museum and Art Gallery it's on. Well, it's undergone a
major refresh ahead of the fiftieth anniversary, Aiming to showcase
(00:22):
Darwin's remarkable journey of responding, rebuilding and resilience. The reimagined
exhibition is set to transport visitors to a nineteen seventies
Darwin home and into the hearsh of the Weather Bureau
as the cyclone approached. And I understand it is very
close to being completed. It will be unveiled in around
(00:45):
a week's time as I understand it. And joining us
live on the line right now is curator Jared Archibold.
Good morning, Jared, doing very well? So am I correct
to say? December seven is when it opens.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That's when it's open to the public. Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yes, how's it all gone?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, it's just like everything that we do. Like yo,
you plan it all out, you have it all how
you're going to do it, and then you have some
little glitches here and there, and then time starts happening,
and then near the end there's lots and lots of
work all happening at once. So we've got electricians working
on lights, we've got conservatives working on objects, we've got
(01:27):
sound engineers working with the sound booth. There's a lot happening,
but it's all coming together. We're really happy with it.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So what can you tell us what you know? What
info can you reveal at this point?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Jared Much Yeah, yes, it is. It is going to
be quite different to what people remember because it is
it is as you were saying, it's undergone a major change,
but there'll be some elements that are the same. So
I think one of the things is the sound booth.
People remember the sound booth. It's something that you know,
people have grown up with as well, especially in Dalhen.
(02:00):
And so the sound booth we had is now not there.
It's been demolished and we have a brand new one.
It has a lot more soundproofing but one of the
things we're going to do with that, and it's also
fit for purpose as well. It's now perfect for people
who need wheelchairs and that sort of thing, where the
other one wasn't. So One of the things we're doing
(02:21):
with that is we've actually gone back and listened to
the actual tape that Father Ted Collins recorded in Stuell
Park and that's where that sound came from. It was
in the booth for thirty years. We've actually had that
remastered as well, because the tape is quite old, it's
fifty years old, and there's a lot more information on
(02:42):
there that we didn't know about. Father Ted Ashley talks
through it at newer times and he gives and he's
in the middle of Cyclone Tracy, so he's giving these
really interesting insights in how he's feeling and what's happening
to his flat there at Saint John's at Stuart Park.
(03:03):
Now you can tell that he is not afraid for
his life. It's very different to what people experienced in
the Northern suburbs. But he is thinking about the big picture,
and so we're actually going to include some of that
with all the sound that's been roused, so it'll give
people just that little bit more of an insight into
(03:24):
what it might have been like and what you might
be thinking, and how he felt at the time and
what was happening. He certainly didn't have the experience that
others in the northern suburbs did or out on the harbor.
It is much more insightful than just having the sound.
So we're really we were quite amazed with it, and
we're hoping people will really get just another insight into
(03:47):
what it might have been like, especially for that person
and what they might have been thinking when he's experienced
in this.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Oh it's given me goosebumps just thinking about it. You know,
the fact that you've got that audio and you know
he's talking through what he's what's sort of happening. That
sounds like it'll be incredible.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, and we've as I said, it's been remastered and
we've completely changed the way the sound boofore us because
it's a brand new one. So yeah, that's one of
the things. So it's there, but it is also different
content and much more interesting content there is. They're one
of the other things. We've tried to incorporate a lot
(04:28):
more stories. We just can't have too much text. That's
one of the big problems we have. No one wants
to read reams and reams of texts, but we have
a lot of imagery, a lot of imagery that people
haven't seen before. We've had a lot of things come in.
Some images though people just go, yes, that is a
very famous photo. We've included some of those, but we're
including much more about the Army and their role in
(04:51):
the cleanup and getting basically getting done ready to become
a building site rather than a destruction site. That was
their job. The Navy before them was that first relief
and their months work with their thirteen ships and three
thousand personnel, but also done reconstruction commission and also just
(05:12):
looking to the future a little as well. So there's
all those sorts of things, and we're really excited that
people are going to I'm sure people are going to
walk in that know, the old one and go, oh,
you know, what have you done? But then they're going
to go, oh, hang on, this is well. We're hoping
they're going to say it's better, ah, and it's going
(05:34):
to be much more rounded and tell more of a story.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, what do you hope people do sort of think
when they walk in. I mean I would think, particularly
when they listen to that audio, it's you know, it
sounds like it'll be a real experience for them. But
also you know, the sharing of those photos, the sharing
of that information, like, it's such an important thing for
(05:57):
us to have.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, and and we can't. One of the things that's
been so difficult for all of us here is what
we have to cut out because we just can't tell everything.
So we're really trying to just touch on all the
most important things. There will be a soundscape as well,
with people actually telling excerpts of their stories because we
just can't have all long stories all through. And even
(06:22):
the entrance is completely different, so that is I won't
get right into that, but that will really give people
a grounding as to where they are territory and give
an indigenous perspective.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, I think that's really important as well. Jared, tell me,
did you manage to raise the funds that you needed
or is there still some fundraising or still some time
for donations to be made.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Ah, Look, we did really well. We're really really grateful
for everyone that put money in. I'm never going to
say we don't want donations. I would never say that,
but this is it's going ahead and it will be
ready to go on the seventh. So one of the
other things I mentioned, we have done a book as
well that'll be ready so it basically tells a story,
(07:12):
has many of those photos and others that we've included
in the in the gallery, so that'll be available for
people to purchase and take away. So lots of color
and black and white, and has lots of extra information
at the back that people can take with them.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
How busy are you expecting it to be in the
lead up to the anniversary?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Very like we were expecting a huge number of people through.
We're doing you know, curated guided tours. They've already been
booked out. Wow, looking at doing some more and we'll
put that up on the website as it happens. We
just expect a lot of people to come through. We
(07:56):
aren't once again though it there's a whole lot of
things with you know, some people will not want to
hear that sound, and there will be some you know,
some sound bleed and things, so you know, we're cognizant
of that. But we just we're hoping people come and
and take it all in and learn more about psychon
(08:19):
Tracy or remember hopefully remember the good as well as
you know, you know, the bad memories are going to
be there. We can't stop that, but hopefully after fifty
years you know, people will say, well, you know, this
needs to be remembered and we've done you know, we
hope we've done the best job we have we could do.
(08:40):
But we're hoping those that come will agree with that
and and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Jared, for you as as the curator, I know, I
know you take your job so seriously. You are, You're
so passionate about the work that you do. Mate, how
are you feeling about sort of you know, about putting
together with a team this exhibition that means so much
to Darwin residents.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, I'll be very blunt. It's been a bit scary
because we you know, and I'll always say, I'm not
a survivor of psyclon tracis, but I've talked to so
many people that that were and still are, you know,
I know people that have passed on now, those who
are older, and we're hoping, I'm really hoping with our team,
(09:32):
and I must say, it's the team. It's not me
that it We're trying to make sure that people feel that,
you know, those survivors that come in, that their memories
are honored and that they feel that we are doing
that the right way. But also we have that due
(09:53):
responsibility of people that did not go through it, or
are family members of those people, or just people from
overseas that you've heard about it, that we can inform
and educate them as well. So there's been that dual thing,
and that's actually, quote sometimes a difficult line to walk down.
We don't want to lean too far one way and
make it a memorial, but we also want to be
(10:15):
able to tell the stories that can be hard for
people to remember.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, oh mate, I know that you and the team there,
you know, to me, it sounds as though you have
absolutely approached this with the respect that it deserves. And
I am sure that it's going to be an exhibition
that all Territorians can be proud of. And like I said,
I know you work really hard and you take your
(10:41):
job really seriously, as does the whole team there at
the museum and art gallery. So I'm really I'm really
looking forward to seeing it. So the seventh Excellence is
the official day? Is it going to be like, is
it going to be You're expecting it to be real busy.
I'm imagining on the seventh as well.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Yeah, we're making sure people know it is the seventh
and it'll know, will throw the doors open and we'll
just see how it goes from there. Like anything can happen.
It might be pouring with rain and not as many
people will come until the rains, so who knows. It
will be open and people can come in experience it
and let us know what they think.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Good on you, Jared, I think it'll be phenomenal. You know.
Just the way you're speaking to me and you're saying,
you know how many of the survivors you've listened to,
you know, the families that you've spoken to, it sounds
like you have treated this with so much respect, and
I know that that is what territorians will appreciate.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
That's what we're hoping for you.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, thank you, Good on you. Thanks so much. I'm
really looking forward to seeing it. Jared, thank you so
much for joining us this morning. No, thank you,
I tell you what one thing that everybody is happy
with when we talk about the way in which we
are remembering Cyclone Tracy is the Museum and Art Galleries exhibition.
And we know that the Cyclone Tracy exhibition at the
Museum and Art Gallery it's on. Well, it's undergone a
major refresh ahead of the fiftieth anniversary, Aiming to showcase
(00:22):
Darwin's remarkable journey of responding, rebuilding and resilience. The reimagined
exhibition is set to transport visitors to a nineteen seventies
Darwin home and into the hearsh of the Weather Bureau
as the cyclone approached. And I understand it is very
close to being completed. It will be unveiled in around
(00:45):
a week's time as I understand it. And joining us
live on the line right now is curator Jared Archibold.
Good morning, Jared, doing very well? So am I correct
to say? December seven is when it opens.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That's when it's open to the public. Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yes, how's it all gone?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, it's just like everything that we do. Like yo,
you plan it all out, you have it all how
you're going to do it, and then you have some
little glitches here and there, and then time starts happening,
and then near the end there's lots and lots of
work all happening at once. So we've got electricians working
on lights, we've got conservatives working on objects, we've got
(01:27):
sound engineers working with the sound booth. There's a lot happening,
but it's all coming together. We're really happy with it.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So what can you tell us what you know? What
info can you reveal at this point?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Jared Much Yeah, yes, it is. It is going to
be quite different to what people remember because it is
it is as you were saying, it's undergone a major change,
but there'll be some elements that are the same. So
I think one of the things is the sound booth.
People remember the sound booth. It's something that you know,
people have grown up with as well, especially in Dalhen.
(02:00):
And so the sound booth we had is now not there.
It's been demolished and we have a brand new one.
It has a lot more soundproofing but one of the
things we're going to do with that, and it's also
fit for purpose as well. It's now perfect for people
who need wheelchairs and that sort of thing, where the
other one wasn't. So One of the things we're doing
(02:21):
with that is we've actually gone back and listened to
the actual tape that Father Ted Collins recorded in Stuell
Park and that's where that sound came from. It was
in the booth for thirty years. We've actually had that
remastered as well, because the tape is quite old, it's
fifty years old, and there's a lot more information on
(02:42):
there that we didn't know about. Father Ted Ashley talks
through it at newer times and he gives and he's
in the middle of Cyclone Tracy, so he's giving these
really interesting insights in how he's feeling and what's happening
to his flat there at Saint John's at Stuart Park.
(03:03):
Now you can tell that he is not afraid for
his life. It's very different to what people experienced in
the Northern suburbs. But he is thinking about the big picture,
and so we're actually going to include some of that
with all the sound that's been roused, so it'll give
people just that little bit more of an insight into
(03:24):
what it might have been like and what you might
be thinking, and how he felt at the time and
what was happening. He certainly didn't have the experience that
others in the northern suburbs did or out on the harbor.
It is much more insightful than just having the sound.
So we're really we were quite amazed with it, and
we're hoping people will really get just another insight into
(03:47):
what it might have been like, especially for that person
and what they might have been thinking when he's experienced
in this.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Oh it's given me goosebumps just thinking about it. You know,
the fact that you've got that audio and you know
he's talking through what he's what's sort of happening. That
sounds like it'll be incredible.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, and we've as I said, it's been remastered and
we've completely changed the way the sound boofore us because
it's a brand new one. So yeah, that's one of
the things. So it's there, but it is also different
content and much more interesting content there is. They're one
of the other things. We've tried to incorporate a lot
(04:28):
more stories. We just can't have too much text. That's
one of the big problems we have. No one wants
to read reams and reams of texts, but we have
a lot of imagery, a lot of imagery that people
haven't seen before. We've had a lot of things come in.
Some images though people just go, yes, that is a
very famous photo. We've included some of those, but we're
including much more about the Army and their role in
(04:51):
the cleanup and getting basically getting done ready to become
a building site rather than a destruction site. That was
their job. The Navy before them was that first relief
and their months work with their thirteen ships and three
thousand personnel, but also done reconstruction commission and also just
(05:12):
looking to the future a little as well. So there's
all those sorts of things, and we're really excited that
people are going to I'm sure people are going to
walk in that know, the old one and go, oh,
you know, what have you done? But then they're going
to go, oh, hang on, this is well. We're hoping
they're going to say it's better, ah, and it's going
(05:34):
to be much more rounded and tell more of a story.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah, what do you hope people do sort of think
when they walk in. I mean I would think, particularly
when they listen to that audio, it's you know, it
sounds like it'll be a real experience for them. But
also you know, the sharing of those photos, the sharing
of that information, like, it's such an important thing for
(05:57):
us to have.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, and and we can't. One of the things that's
been so difficult for all of us here is what
we have to cut out because we just can't tell everything.
So we're really trying to just touch on all the
most important things. There will be a soundscape as well,
with people actually telling excerpts of their stories because we
just can't have all long stories all through. And even
(06:22):
the entrance is completely different, so that is I won't
get right into that, but that will really give people
a grounding as to where they are territory and give
an indigenous perspective.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Yeah, I think that's really important as well. Jared, tell me,
did you manage to raise the funds that you needed
or is there still some fundraising or still some time
for donations to be made.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Ah, Look, we did really well. We're really really grateful
for everyone that put money in. I'm never going to
say we don't want donations. I would never say that,
but this is it's going ahead and it will be
ready to go on the seventh. So one of the
other things I mentioned, we have done a book as
well that'll be ready so it basically tells a story,
(07:12):
has many of those photos and others that we've included
in the in the gallery, so that'll be available for
people to purchase and take away. So lots of color
and black and white, and has lots of extra information
at the back that people can take with them.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
How busy are you expecting it to be in the
lead up to the anniversary?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Very like we were expecting a huge number of people through.
We're doing you know, curated guided tours. They've already been
booked out. Wow, looking at doing some more and we'll
put that up on the website as it happens. We
just expect a lot of people to come through. We
(07:56):
aren't once again though it there's a whole lot of
things with you know, some people will not want to
hear that sound, and there will be some you know,
some sound bleed and things, so you know, we're cognizant
of that. But we just we're hoping people come and
and take it all in and learn more about psychon
(08:19):
Tracy or remember hopefully remember the good as well as
you know, you know, the bad memories are going to
be there. We can't stop that, but hopefully after fifty
years you know, people will say, well, you know, this
needs to be remembered and we've done you know, we
hope we've done the best job we have we could do.
(08:40):
But we're hoping those that come will agree with that
and and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Jared, for you as as the curator, I know, I
know you take your job so seriously. You are, You're
so passionate about the work that you do. Mate, how
are you feeling about sort of you know, about putting
together with a team this exhibition that means so much
to Darwin residents.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, I'll be very blunt. It's been a bit scary
because we you know, and I'll always say, I'm not
a survivor of psyclon tracis, but I've talked to so
many people that that were and still are, you know,
I know people that have passed on now, those who
are older, and we're hoping, I'm really hoping with our team,
(09:32):
and I must say, it's the team. It's not me
that it We're trying to make sure that people feel that,
you know, those survivors that come in, that their memories
are honored and that they feel that we are doing
that the right way. But also we have that due
(09:53):
responsibility of people that did not go through it, or
are family members of those people, or just people from
overseas that you've heard about it, that we can inform
and educate them as well. So there's been that dual thing,
and that's actually, quote sometimes a difficult line to walk down.
We don't want to lean too far one way and
make it a memorial, but we also want to be
(10:15):
able to tell the stories that can be hard for
people to remember.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, oh mate, I know that you and the team there,
you know, to me, it sounds as though you have
absolutely approached this with the respect that it deserves. And
I am sure that it's going to be an exhibition
that all Territorians can be proud of. And like I said,
I know you work really hard and you take your
(10:41):
job really seriously, as does the whole team there at
the museum and art gallery. So I'm really I'm really
looking forward to seeing it. So the seventh Excellence is
the official day? Is it going to be like, is
it going to be You're expecting it to be real busy.
I'm imagining on the seventh as well.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Yeah, we're making sure people know it is the seventh
and it'll know, will throw the doors open and we'll
just see how it goes from there. Like anything can happen.
It might be pouring with rain and not as many
people will come until the rains, so who knows. It
will be open and people can come in experience it
and let us know what they think.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Good on you, Jared, I think it'll be phenomenal. You know.
Just the way you're speaking to me and you're saying,
you know how many of the survivors you've listened to,
you know, the families that you've spoken to, it sounds
like you have treated this with so much respect, and
I know that that is what territorians will appreciate.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
That's what we're hoping for you.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, thank you, Good on you. Thanks so much. I'm
really looking forward to seeing it. Jared, thank you so
much for joining us this morning. No, thank you,
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