Winds of Fury

The full true story of the great Darwin disaster

by Keith Cole

Rigby, 1977, [First Edition], ISBN 0727005553, black and white photographic plates, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, some edge and shelf wear, some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, dustjacket shows a little edge and shelf wear with a little rubbing, bumping, chipping, creasing and small tears to edges, corners and covers (see photographs)

“Winds of Fury tells the full true story of the disaster which overwhelmed Darwin on Christmas Day 1974 and of its aftereffects, still felt until today.
Keith Cole experienced every moment of the disaster and its consequences.  With his wife, he survived the fearful experience of having his home torn apart by the savage winds.  Then, with thousands more Darwin folk, he faced the stunning task of reconstruction.  From his own experiences and those of many others he covers every aspect of the cyclone: background, impact, aftermath.  He tells the horrifying stories of men and women who survived – or did not survive – the winds of fury.  He describes the chaos of Darwin after the cyclone, the great exodus of refugees, the bureaucratic bungling, the recriminations, the splendid work of the Navy and of many other helpers, the confusion and frustration of people attempting to rebuild shattered lives.  Many did not succeed.  They encountered such grim realities as inflation and under-insurance, which prevented them from rebuilding their homes, and the outburst of emotional problems which destroyed marriages.
Much government aid went only to the public sector.  Political fumbling aroused great resentment.  Some workers were interested only in profiting from the disaster.  For many Darwin folk the aftermath seemed almost as bad as the cyclone, but they tackled the task of reconstruction with faith and determination.  Keith Cole presents a full-scale picture of Australia’s greatest natural disaster, and a vivid portrayal of human nature in all its aspects as the shattered community fights its way back from tragedy to triumph.”