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Bureau of Meteorology, Cyclone Althea, Cyclone Leonta, Cyclone Sigma, Cyclone Yasi, George Saunders, Ross Creek, Saunders Beach Rural Fire Brigade, Thuringowa City Council, Toolakea Beach, Townsville City Council, Townsville Enterprise Ltd, Townsville Grammar, Volunteers
The 2016-17 cyclone season starts today, 1st November 2016 with the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology launching its cyclone warning service for 2016-17.
Since 2007 Saunders Beach has had a constant reminder of cyclones in the form of interpretive signage in Saunders Park, at the northern end of Reef Street.
Image 1. The Saunders Beach Cyclone sign. Designed and installed by Thuringowa City Council.
Until 2008 Saunders Beach was in the local government area of Thuringowa City Council. In late 2007 officers from the Council invited interested community members to work with them on interpretive signage throughout the various Council areas.
The writer and a colleague accepted an invitation to be part of this exciting new feature for Saunders Beach. Meetings took place in late 2006 – early 2007 and issues discussed covered such topics as the need for an overall plan, consistency in sign design across the Council areas and maintenance costs.
Early on it was decided that the Saunders Beach sign would be about cyclones and would be placed in Saunders Park, also known locally as the Reef Street carpark.
Image 2. The interpretive sign is positioned at the entrance to the beach in Saunders Park. The Big Rock and the mouth of Althaus Creek are nearby. Image taken August 2012.
In a colourful and dramatic way the sign illustrates different aspects of Saunders Beach’s involvement with cyclones in the area. The individual elements are discussed below:
CYCLONE GRAPHIC OF CYCLONE LARRY
Image 3. Tropical cyclone image of Larry that crossed the Queensland coast in 2006. Courtesy Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
On Sunday afternoon 19 March 2006 the residents of Saunders Beach were told by police and the local volunteer Fire Brigade to evacuate their homes. Larry crossed the coast near Innisfail on the morning of 20 March 2006. Saunders Beach residents returned home later that morning, fortunately to find no damage.
TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE LIMITED
Townsville Enterprise Ltd’s project The Great Tropical Drive coincided with Thuringowa City Council’s interpretive signage initiative and it was determined that the Saunders Beach cyclone sign would be an excellent fit.
Image 4.
Image 5. “History of the Bohle Plains”, another example of the Great Tropical Drive interpretive signage. This one is situated at the eastern end of Mt Low Parkway and mentions George Saunders as one of the settlers who took up land in what was to become Bushland Beach.
The link www.GreatTropicalDrive.com.au is still active after nine years. Page 2 of this brochure:
The Great Tropical Drive is a self-drive route that will take you from Cairns or Townsville to some amazing places – less than a few hours away!
…Take the time to experience the entire Great Tropical Drive route or choose a shorter drive to suit: from easy one-day drives to week-long 4WD and campervan adventures.
Saunders Beach features as part of Route 1 – Great Tropical Drive, Route 2 – the Great Green Way and Route 12 – Paluma.
Clicking on the link For further visitor information on the local area reveals a heading Links In. The third choice Tourism Townsville North Queensland opens another glossy, informative run-down of Townsville’s attractions by Townsville Enterprise Ltd. www.townsvilleonline.com.au
TOWNSVILLE’S MAJOR CYCLONES
Image 6.
CYCLONE ALTHEA 24 DECEMBER 1971
Image 7.
REEF STREET
Image 8. The house next door to Peter Davis in Reef Street. On the aerial shot below (Image 9) the two houses are positioned just outside the image (upper left).
The damage to the southern end of Reef Street is shown in heartbreaking detail in this Thuringowa City Council photo ID 4947.
Image 9. After Cyclone Althea, the intersection of, from left to right: Reef Street, Esplanade and Cay Street (lower right) .
CYCLONE YASI FEBRUARY 2011
One of the initial considerations for the interpretive signage working group was vandalism. Would the signs be prone to vandalism? What, if anything could be done to prevent it?
The ultimate natural vandalism occurred at the beginning of February 2011 when Cyclone Yasi crossed the Queensland coast at Mission Beach.
The Saunders Beach cyclone story sign withstood Yasi’s fury overnight on the 2nd – 3rd February 2011 and the tidal surge about 9am on the 3rd while other natural and man-made items suffered damage.
Image 10. After Cyclone Yasi. Image kindly contributed by Terry Chapman.
Image 11. Interpretive signage after Cyclone Yasi. Image kindly contributed by Terry Chapman.
OTHER HAPPENINGS IN THE LIFE OF THE SAUNDERS BEACH CYLONE STORY SIGN
Image 12. Taken 21 February 2010. Heavy rain eroded the entrance to the beach.
Image 13. Townsville City Council erected two new rotundas at the beginning of 2014 to replace the existing two. Taken 14 Feb 2014.
Image 14. Bottom right – the exposed hexagonal white tiles are the first of a path-retaining system that runs down to the beach. Taken 18 Feb 2014.
Image 15. The two clearings for the new rotundas. Taken 18 Feb 2014.
Image 16. One of the two new rotundas. Taken April 2014.
Image 17. Because of Saunders Park’s distance by sea from Townsville it is sometimes the finish line for events.
Image 18. The Saunders Beach Paddlers entered the 2015 NQ Ocean Paddling Series.
Image 19. Townsville City Council officers attached this warning in response to a little girl stepping onto smouldering embers of a fire on the beach. The embers were covered with sand and the girl suffered severe burns. Image taken 30 Jun 2016.
MORE PHOTOS OF THE SAUNDERS BEACH CYCLONE STORY SIGN?
As you may have noticed Saunders Beach History Project doesn’t have a single photo of the sign when it was new. Do you?
We’d love to hear from you if you have. Just comment below or email saundersbeachhistoryproject @ yahoo.com (To protect our address spaces are inserted either side of the @; please remove them when you email us. Thank you.)
References.
The Commonwealth of Australian 2016, Bureau of Meteorology. Viewed 28 October 16. http://www.bom.gov.au/
Saunders Beach, Queensland, Australia 