Senator Trish Crossin says tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of the devastating Katherine floods serve as a reminder of the importance of community spirit in regional towns.
Date: 26 January 2008
Senator Trish Crossin says tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of the devastating Katherine floods serve as a reminder of the importance of community spirit in regional towns.
The 1998 Australia Day floods showed the nation the fighting spirit the Katherine community has when faced with adversity.
The Katherine River broke records when it peaked on the 27th of January 1998, by far the worst floods the town had ever seen.
Since those record floods, Katherine has been flooded several times. However, the community has continued to pull and work together, with the help and support of volunteers across the Territory, to overcome disaster.
People lost treasured possessions that fateful Australia Day, many were traumatised, but the strength and courage of the Katherine community never failed.
Because of that courage, Katherine has returned to its vibrant self.
Australia Day celebrates what is great about Australia and being Australian.
The Katherine community characterises what Australia Day is all about - the spirit of mateship, pulling together during adversity, and volunteering our time to help out our mates.