National Disasters Organisation
& Major General Stretton
The Role of the Director-General of the National Disasters Organisation (Major-General Stretton)
The Commonwealth government had taken steps to establish a National Disasters Organisation earlier in 1974, and Major-General Alan Stretton had been appointed its Director. However, when Tracy struck Darwin no legislation had been passed to vest special powers in the Director.
Reports of the cyclone reached the Canberra headquarters of the organisation at 6.20 AM (4.50 AM Darwin time) on Christmas morning, but there was no clear information until 12.25 PM Canberra time, when a message from the Secretary, Department of the Northern Territory in Darwin, was received, advising that 90% of the city had been destroyed, and asking for surgical assistance, a disaster assessment team, and urgent supplies.
At 10.20 PM Darwin time an aircraft carrying Stretton, Dr. Rex Patterson (Minister for the Northern Territory), a surgical team, and medical supplies landed in Darwin. While the aircraft was in flight Patterson received a message from the Acting Prime Minister, Dr. JF Cairns, directing that Stretton should take control of the disaster relief operations. It later became clear that there was little or no legal basis for this direction. Stretton was to infer that he possessed extraordinary powers, and this was to bring him into conflict with civil and judicial authorities in Darwin. (see McLaren; MacCallum)
Stretton carried out his counter-disaster activities through local liaison and action committees, coordinated by Ray McHenry, First Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Northern Territory. Priority was given to health issues, restoration of communication through the ABC radio station, restoration of water supplies, and evacuation.
In Canberra, "red tape" was slashed to permit purchases of emergency supplies and equipment and other mobilisation of resources with minimum delay.
Co-operative arrangements between government and private organisations were made to receive and accommodate evacuees. These organisations also co-ordinated the delivery of relief supplies.
"Normal administration" in Darwin was resumed at 1.00 PM on 31 December 1974, when Stretton "handed over" full administrative control to Ray McHenry, and recommended that normal civilian administration should resume. (Stretton ).