On 19 February 1942, Darwin came under attack for the first time by Japanese forces. Two air raids were launched that day, the start of the many attacks endured between 1942 -1943. While Darwin bore the brunt of those attacks, other parts of the Northern Territory were also a target. Arnhem Land, Batchelor, Adelaide River, Katherine, Millingimbi also suffered.
77 years later, countless books have been written to recount the events and delve into a moment in history that had a significant impact on the shaping of our community. In the 2018 Chief Minister’s History Book Award, there were seven entries including a play and a children’s book that used stories and historical elements from the bombing of Darwin as the focus for their work.
Join us for a conversation with historians Dr. Tom Lewis (OAM) and Dr. Wendy Beresford-Maning and playwright Sandra Thibodeaux in conversation with ABC’s Kristy O’Brien. Together we will explore the history of Darwin’s bombing through the stories told and writing styles used to gain a better understanding of how an event so long ago remains relevant for historians, researchers, storytellers alike.