This Wednesday marked the 108th anniversary of Mackay’s greatest natural disaster, a tragedy that still echoes through the region’s history.
As residents recently experienced heavy rain and strong winds from Tropical Cyclone Koji, it has prompted reflection on a far more devastating event from the early 1900s – the catastrophic cyclone of 1918.
More than a century ago, on January 20 and 21, 1918, Mackay and surrounding districts were struck by what remains the worst natural disaster ever to hit the area. The powerful cyclone, combined with a destructive tidal surge, claimed many lives and left widespread devastation in its wake.
Today, a memorial stone along the Pioneer River stands as a reminder of those tragic days. The 1918 Cyclone Memorial commemorates the citizens of Mackay and the district who lost their lives during the disaster, ensuring their memory is never forgotten.
The memorial plaque at the Bluewater Quay was officially unveiled by Mayor Cr Julie Boyd on January 20, 1998. The names were compiled with the assistance of the Genealogical Society of Queensland, Mackay Branch, and the State Library of Queensland.
**Recorded on the memorial are the names of those known to have perished in the cyclone and tidal surge:
More information to follow in next week’s edition.
Photo source: Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
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