Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now joining me in the studio this morning, because we
know that the discussion of the City of Darwin's Cyclone
monument at Bundilla Beach, it doesn't seem to be easing up.
I mean every day we still continue to take calls
and messages about it. Joining us in the studio right
now though, is one of our counselors, Mick Palmer. Good
morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You, Meck, Good morning Kate.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Good to have you on the show. Good to have
you in this studio. Now you are a Cyclone Tracy survivor.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Well, yeah, I was here when it happened.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
So is there a difference between survivors and.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Here people like some people like take us themselves as survivors,
the co order people I knock around with generally you
see ourselves as people that we're here.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
And so do you feel passionately about whether there is
a memorial, whether there's a monument, you know exactly what
sort of happens to mark the fiftieth anniversary.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, there seems to be two lots of opinion here.
One that supports a memorial and that that's well and good,
that's not a problem. And another view is the view
I have is that rather than just looking backwards what
happened at cyclone Tracy, We've got to celebrate the intervening
fifty years, you know, where Darwin's been and what it's
(01:11):
growing into following those tragic events.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Now, in terms of last night, I understand there was
a council meeting. Was there anything to do with the
monument at Bundilla Beach sort of decided upon that had
already been voted on, hadn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well, yeah, there's been voted on months ago. You know,
it had to we had to go to start the process,
you know, else nothing had happened. So it's being manufactured
as we speak. It'll be installed. I understand late November
with the Council did decide to support the the installation
(01:44):
of memorial. At each point there's a couple of things
there that need to be addressed.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
And so supporting it as the frang Japanies or as
the big sort of monument that they had hoped to
be able to do.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Off the race. The one on the on the on
the reef is not on council property. Okay, that's Antigo,
but our property ends up the high watermark. So we
can only talk for for the top about the high
watermark where the proposed cycleed Fransire pennies.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And that's so that's the Council's voted to support that
in principle.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
We need obviously to get some details so we can
issue words permit. You know, there's there are things to
be considered, and including the location of it. You know,
there is the biodiversity plan for each point that encompasses
a few things like that. We want to make sure
that that it's safe, secure and and you know, from
(02:42):
what I said, it's proposed to have it right at
the cliff top. Well, it will end up on a
reef in due course if it's right at the cliff top,
because the coastline subject to subside.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
And so it sounds like there might have to be
some movement in terms of exactly where that monument goes.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, yeah, I think I think, you know, but.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The councils is the council prepared to work pretty closely
with that group, with the survivors group, to make sure
that they come to a happy agreement.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
In terms of so in terms of what's happening at Bundilla,
because there's been lots of discussion about that. Obviously the
Mayor had said to us last week on the show
that it's not a Cyclone Tracy monument. It's a public
art work. But what's I mean as a council like,
is it moving forward as a Cyclone Tracy monument.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, monument, memorial, dedicated sculpture. I mean, you can play
with words, but as I said, it's a public art works.
It's a kinetic which I like. I'm a big fan
of Connecticut art. Maybe more rolling ball CONNECTICU art than
that sort of Connectic art, but I still like my Connecticut. Yeah,
(03:48):
it's called the Coriolist and hopefully it spins the right way.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yep. So is it I mean, is it something that like,
is it something that everybody on council support it, because
I think that at the moment cons gotten a lot
of stick it is.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yeah. The council met, Yeah, you know, the committee that
formed made recommendations that that we commission a kinetic sculpture,
which you know, with wind and forces of nature, this
this what you know, it imparts upon you you know.
(04:22):
And it's close to the museum and it's a great
spot for viewing sunsets, et cetera, et cetera, and and
and council met, you know, based on that recommendation, the
council got the aldermen, you got recommendations from the staff,
from the team, and we agreed to it, and everyone
(04:43):
agreed to it.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
So everybody actually agreed to it, because again I go
back to the point, like Conn's Conn is coppying a
lot of stick, even if you read things on social media,
even to us here at the station, people are you know,
they're focusing a lot of their energy on him. But
at the end of the day, there's how many how
many counselors.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
There's twelve councils and con con you know, isn't an
executive mayor. He's once one or thirteen. He's got no
executive powers whatsoever. He can't direct stuff to do stuff.
He can't direct budget re approval.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's something everybody's got to agree.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He's a titular head of counsel and he's some ceremonial
type person in his brains.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Do you reckon he like as a counsel got this wrong.
I mean, people are pretty furious about it. You don't
reckon they've got.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It wrong, And of course not people always get furious
about works public art works. I mean, you can't find
any in the world that have been put up and
the people haven't been furious about you. You can go
back to the spire who proposed John McDowell Stuart's spire
that people got furious about. I don't know who is
(05:48):
a a expert on public.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Art, you know, could we have done it a bit
different though? In terms of it, I suppose maybe luck,
you know, being more respectful to to people, to the
lives that had been lost, and maybe something that was
a bit more about this.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
There's a plaque on the wall outside the council building
which is open or unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth,
that has the name of all the people that passed
during the cyclone. You know, many of whom are you
or many of those families. You know, I know the
family is one not particularly close to me. But you know,
(06:30):
that's that's there. That's that's a memorial to those that
have died. You know. There are other plaques and things
around Darwin. There's the there's the exhibition at the museum
and this, you know, the Coriols. He said, not only
to you know, as a memorial, what if you like
(06:51):
to call it to the cyclone, but you know, a
celebration almost of where Darwin's come in the fifty years.
You know, there was no palm, there was no entertainment said,
there's no waterfront, there was no a lot of the
facilities you take for granted. Now just word here and
now it's come a long long way.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
So what do you say to the people listening, because
I know I can guarantee it. Once our interview finishes,
I'm going to start getting messages and I'm going to
start getting calls. What do you say to those people
listening this morning that that don't feel like this? You
know that this monument that's going up at Bundilla Beach
fits the community's expectations.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Well, nothing will fit the community's expectations. I don't care
what you propose. There's going to be opposition to it.
You know. I think this, this Coriolysis is be a
marvelous piece of public art, and that's what it's meant
to be. You know, it's something where people can gather
(07:54):
ANDed itself forms. Another dimensions are on the places to go,
you know, things that tourists can go and look at yep,
you know, rather than just blend memorials.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And there's someone who did live here when Cyclone Tracy
struck and whose family obviously lived through that. I mean,
you're obviously not offended by what's you know, what's going up.
In fact, you've approved it. You think it's from what
you said, you think it's a good idea.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not offended by it at all. How
can you take offense to something that blows around in
the wind.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Well, I think that's what people are worried about, that
it blows around the wind, and you know, and after
living through that cyclone, that they feel as though it's
maybe not the best option.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well do they not then take advantage of wind power?
You know? Well? Yeah, really yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Look, look, I mean to me, I know that there's
a lot of people who are really upset about it.
I know that they, you know, they had thought that
it would be something different. I think they were, you know,
their expectations were very different. They wanted the local artists,
they wanted you know, they wanted I guess the memory
of those that have been lost and the re emergency of.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Let's see that Plark is there opened in nineteen sent
Iron Veil in nineteen seventy seven, by her Majesty the Queen.
That's done, that is there in place. You know that
the thing East Point is supposed to be a memorial,
a place where you can sit and reflect and think
about the hard times or whatever. The one at Bundilla
(09:34):
is a reflection of where Darla has been and where
it's going to, where it's you know, what's happened in
the fifty years. It could be a celebration of a
remarkable recovery, remarkable fifty years.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Well. Mc Palmark, Counselor for the City of Darwin, appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you very much for joining me.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Thank you Kate, thank you
Now joining me in the studio this morning, because we
know that the discussion of the City of Darwin's Cyclone
monument at Bundilla Beach, it doesn't seem to be easing up.
I mean every day we still continue to take calls
and messages about it. Joining us in the studio right
now though, is one of our counselors, Mick Palmer. Good
morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You, Meck, Good morning Kate.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Good to have you on the show. Good to have
you in this studio. Now you are a Cyclone Tracy survivor.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Well, yeah, I was here when it happened.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
So is there a difference between survivors and.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Here people like some people like take us themselves as survivors,
the co order people I knock around with generally you
see ourselves as people that we're here.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
And so do you feel passionately about whether there is
a memorial, whether there's a monument, you know exactly what
sort of happens to mark the fiftieth anniversary.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, there seems to be two lots of opinion here.
One that supports a memorial and that that's well and good,
that's not a problem. And another view is the view
I have is that rather than just looking backwards what
happened at cyclone Tracy, We've got to celebrate the intervening
fifty years, you know, where Darwin's been and what it's
(01:11):
growing into following those tragic events.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Now, in terms of last night, I understand there was
a council meeting. Was there anything to do with the
monument at Bundilla Beach sort of decided upon that had
already been voted on, hadn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well, yeah, there's been voted on months ago. You know,
it had to we had to go to start the process,
you know, else nothing had happened. So it's being manufactured
as we speak. It'll be installed. I understand late November
with the Council did decide to support the the installation
(01:44):
of memorial. At each point there's a couple of things
there that need to be addressed.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
And so supporting it as the frang Japanies or as
the big sort of monument that they had hoped to
be able to do.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Off the race. The one on the on the on
the reef is not on council property. Okay, that's Antigo,
but our property ends up the high watermark. So we
can only talk for for the top about the high
watermark where the proposed cycleed Fransire pennies.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And that's so that's the Council's voted to support that
in principle.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
We need obviously to get some details so we can
issue words permit. You know, there's there are things to
be considered, and including the location of it. You know,
there is the biodiversity plan for each point that encompasses
a few things like that. We want to make sure
that that it's safe, secure and and you know, from
(02:42):
what I said, it's proposed to have it right at
the cliff top. Well, it will end up on a
reef in due course if it's right at the cliff top,
because the coastline subject to subside.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
And so it sounds like there might have to be
some movement in terms of exactly where that monument goes.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, yeah, I think I think, you know, but.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
The councils is the council prepared to work pretty closely
with that group, with the survivors group, to make sure
that they come to a happy agreement.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
In terms of so in terms of what's happening at Bundilla,
because there's been lots of discussion about that. Obviously the
Mayor had said to us last week on the show
that it's not a Cyclone Tracy monument. It's a public
art work. But what's I mean as a council like,
is it moving forward as a Cyclone Tracy monument.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, monument, memorial, dedicated sculpture. I mean, you can play
with words, but as I said, it's a public art works.
It's a kinetic which I like. I'm a big fan
of Connecticut art. Maybe more rolling ball CONNECTICU art than
that sort of Connectic art, but I still like my Connecticut. Yeah,
(03:48):
it's called the Coriolist and hopefully it spins the right way.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Yep. So is it I mean, is it something that like,
is it something that everybody on council support it, because
I think that at the moment cons gotten a lot
of stick it is.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Yeah. The council met, Yeah, you know, the committee that
formed made recommendations that that we commission a kinetic sculpture,
which you know, with wind and forces of nature, this
this what you know, it imparts upon you you know.
(04:22):
And it's close to the museum and it's a great
spot for viewing sunsets, et cetera, et cetera, and and
and council met, you know, based on that recommendation, the
council got the aldermen, you got recommendations from the staff,
from the team, and we agreed to it, and everyone
(04:43):
agreed to it.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
So everybody actually agreed to it, because again I go
back to the point, like Conn's Conn is coppying a
lot of stick, even if you read things on social media,
even to us here at the station, people are you know,
they're focusing a lot of their energy on him. But
at the end of the day, there's how many how
many counselors.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
There's twelve councils and con con you know, isn't an
executive mayor. He's once one or thirteen. He's got no
executive powers whatsoever. He can't direct stuff to do stuff.
He can't direct budget re approval.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
It's something everybody's got to agree.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
He's a titular head of counsel and he's some ceremonial
type person in his brains.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Do you reckon he like as a counsel got this wrong.
I mean, people are pretty furious about it. You don't
reckon they've got.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It wrong, And of course not people always get furious
about works public art works. I mean, you can't find
any in the world that have been put up and
the people haven't been furious about you. You can go
back to the spire who proposed John McDowell Stuart's spire
that people got furious about. I don't know who is
(05:48):
a a expert on public.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Art, you know, could we have done it a bit
different though? In terms of it, I suppose maybe luck,
you know, being more respectful to to people, to the
lives that had been lost, and maybe something that was
a bit more about this.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
There's a plaque on the wall outside the council building
which is open or unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth,
that has the name of all the people that passed
during the cyclone. You know, many of whom are you
or many of those families. You know, I know the
family is one not particularly close to me. But you know,
(06:30):
that's that's there. That's that's a memorial to those that
have died. You know. There are other plaques and things
around Darwin. There's the there's the exhibition at the museum
and this, you know, the Coriols. He said, not only
to you know, as a memorial, what if you like
(06:51):
to call it to the cyclone, but you know, a
celebration almost of where Darwin's come in the fifty years.
You know, there was no palm, there was no entertainment said,
there's no waterfront, there was no a lot of the
facilities you take for granted. Now just word here and
now it's come a long long way.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
So what do you say to the people listening, because
I know I can guarantee it. Once our interview finishes,
I'm going to start getting messages and I'm going to
start getting calls. What do you say to those people
listening this morning that that don't feel like this? You
know that this monument that's going up at Bundilla Beach
fits the community's expectations.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Well, nothing will fit the community's expectations. I don't care
what you propose. There's going to be opposition to it.
You know. I think this, this Coriolysis is be a
marvelous piece of public art, and that's what it's meant
to be. You know, it's something where people can gather
(07:54):
ANDed itself forms. Another dimensions are on the places to go,
you know, things that tourists can go and look at yep,
you know, rather than just blend memorials.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
And there's someone who did live here when Cyclone Tracy
struck and whose family obviously lived through that. I mean,
you're obviously not offended by what's you know, what's going up.
In fact, you've approved it. You think it's from what
you said, you think it's a good idea.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not offended by it at all. How
can you take offense to something that blows around in
the wind.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Well, I think that's what people are worried about, that
it blows around the wind, and you know, and after
living through that cyclone, that they feel as though it's
maybe not the best option.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Well do they not then take advantage of wind power?
You know? Well? Yeah, really yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Look, look, I mean to me, I know that there's
a lot of people who are really upset about it.
I know that they, you know, they had thought that
it would be something different. I think they were, you know,
their expectations were very different. They wanted the local artists,
they wanted you know, they wanted I guess the memory
of those that have been lost and the re emergency of.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Let's see that Plark is there opened in nineteen sent
Iron Veil in nineteen seventy seven, by her Majesty the Queen.
That's done, that is there in place. You know that
the thing East Point is supposed to be a memorial,
a place where you can sit and reflect and think
about the hard times or whatever. The one at Bundilla
(09:34):
is a reflection of where Darla has been and where
it's going to, where it's you know, what's happened in
the fifty years. It could be a celebration of a
remarkable recovery, remarkable fifty years.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Well. Mc Palmark, Counselor for the City of Darwin, appreciate
your time this morning. Thank you very much for joining me.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Thank you Kate, thank you
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