Territory skyline lights up
Revellers crowd into local hot spots as 336 tonnes of fireworks are set off in celebration of our unique, decades-old tradition
THE Territory has sparked to life, alive with passion and enthusiasm to celebrate the day that is uniquely ours – Territory Day.
The sun was shining and the dry season was as good as it gets as Territorians loaded their boots with fireworks and cracked a couple of tinnies to enjoy what’s arguably the best day of the year.
Mindil Beach was filling quickly by the early afternoon and, by 3pm, families had planted stumps for the night while Mitchell St pubs overflowed with people and their pints by the late afternoon.
In Palmerston, you couldn’t fit much more in Goyder Square and it was much the same for Katherine and Tennant Creek.
Alice Springs shivered through a cold evening but their fireworks display was well worth it.
Some 336 tonnes of fireworks were imported to the Territory.
Darwin’s coastline, from Nightcliff to the city, lit up in a stunning show of colour but not everyone obeyed the 6pm to 11pm detonation rule.
It’s a proud tradition spanning almost four decades, though authorities were concerned many could be dangerously boozed-up by the time the five-hour free-for-all began.
In the 10 years to 2016, 197 people had gone to hospital with fireworks-related injuries, including severe burns, lacerations, visual impairment, hearing loss and broken bones.
Of these, more than half were children under 16 and a third of victims were bystand- ers.
But yesterday police were e reporting good behaviour all ll around.
Mindil Beach was by far the e most popular spot, drawing a record crowd of over 15,000 0 people.
Territory siblings Charli li and Taj Penrose, 9 and 6, of Jingili, said they had been n counting down the days to o Territory Day.
“We love letting off fire- works but before that we’lll watch the music and have fun at Mindil Beach,” Charli said.
“We love living in Darwin because of the weather and fishing. We are proud to live here.”
NT Major Events general al manager Andrew Hopper said d plenty of people put in time e and effort to organise such a huge event but it was worth it.
“What better way to cele- brate than on a beach watching a sunset and then some fireworks?” he said.
Mindil Beach fireworks s were launched from three bar- ges about 200m from shore. Territorians watch on as the main fireworks display goes off with a bang at the Mindil Beach Territory Day 2017 celebrations Pictures: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD, MICHAEL FRANCHI
“We love living in Darwin because of the weather and fishing. We are proud to live here”
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