Dust storm

Originally published May 8, 2019

MILDURA was plunged into darkness within minutes after a massive dust storm came through the region.

Thick red dust and strong northerly wind gusts forced their way into town about 5pm triggering smoke alarms and grounding all aircraft.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the freak storm and extent of the reduced visibility was not on the “radar” for Mildura.

Northerly wind gusts of 63 kilometres an hour were recorded which created the blanket of red dust.

The “bizarre” weather conditions were also attributed to the region’s lack of rainfall over the summer and autumn period.

The unexpected storm also set off fire alarms across the city, with the Country Fire Authority called out to more than 15 businesses.

Aviation was impacted by the dust storm where airport staff and travellers were evacuated from the terminal and planes were forced to turn around due to the severity of the dust.

Airlines cancelled all incoming and outgoing flights as a result of the storm until receiving the all clear from air traffic control later in the that evening.

The massive cloud of dust triggered debate whether the 2019 “apocalyptic” event was the mother of all dust storms to hit Mildura.

Video and still images of the “dust tsunami” went viral almost as soon as the storm hit including on the BBC News and Irish Times websites.

The storm created havoc on the region’s roads and left a thick layer of dust across the region.

The rolling wave of topsoil drew comparisons to the image captured by Sunraysia Daily photographer Don Turvey on January 24, 1968, when he scaled the former STV8 tower to record the phenomenon.

The resultant image was a combination of three photographs Mr Turvey took while perched at the top of the Deakin Avenue tower as the mountain of dirt rolled toward him.

That storm brought the city to a standstill as it plunged the region into “near blackness” and has long been regarded as the one that has topped them all.

It was believed to have originated in central Australia, was an estimated 100 kilometres wide and reached as far afield as New Zealand.

Mr Turvey, who died in July 2012, said the 1968 event was “no ordinary dust storm”.

He had decided some time before the storm that if there was ever going to be a “big one” the STV8 tower next door to Sunraysia Daily would be the premium spot for a photograph.

As the 1968 storm approached from the south west, a young apprentice followed Mr Turvey to the top of the STV8 tower, but quickly realised he wouldn’t be able to get the full brunt of the storm in one frame.

He managed to get in four shots before he and his rookie hung on for dear life for about 30 minutes until the storm passed and it was safe enough to climb down.

Three of the photographs made up the final version of his storm image, Mr Turvey later stating that after 25 years taking photographs for Sunraysia Daily, “the big one” ranked No.1 for all its challenges.