Darwin, Australia

There is a take-away from every place we visit, and it’s not always the one we expect.  Darwin is a prime example.  Although it enjoys a long and beautiful beachfront, it is not otherwise a beautiful city.  But what it has going for it is the grit of its people.

We visited the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, where there is a section called “Unruly Days.” As recently as 1911, Darwin was a wild and wooly frontier town, often ignored by the rest of the country.  The locals were exploited by people “from away” who brought in low-wage jobs in volatile industries.  That led to a people’s rebellion that brought unemployment to three-quarters of Darwin’s population.

 In 1942, during WWII, Darwin was the target of 64 Japanese bombing raids that killed 243 people and caused significant damage to the city.

On Christmas Eve, 1974, Cyclone Tracy left Darwin in ruins.  Wind gusts were measured at 135mph before the measuring instruments failed.  The city was flattened; not a single building escaped.  The severity of the destruction left people with nowhere to go; more than 30,000 were evacuated, most with just the clothes they were wearing.

In every case, these tough-minded people rolled up their sleeves and got to work rebuilding their lives.  Each of these events underscored the importance of resilience and strong community bonds.

Our visit to that museum left us with a greater understanding and appreciation of the folks who call Darwin home.  Even in their darkest hours, they have found hope for brighter times ahead.