This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first of the bombing raids on Darwin; it may well be the last milestone anniversary to involve survivors of the raids and two weeks of special events have been organised to commemorate the occasion.

On 19 February, the date of the first raid, the Australian American Association of the NT will be holding a special service at the USS Peary Gun Memorial on The Esplanade at 8am. This will be followed at 9.30am by a formal commemorative ceremony at The Cenotaph.

Among other events during these two weeks:

Following the official opening of the Bombing of Darwin Museum at East Point on 17 February, the museum will be open to the public

The Genealogical Society of the NT is holding a morning tea with Pearl Ogden who will be looking at the impact of the war years in Darwin. (NT Archives, 25 Cavanagh Street, 9.30am, 18 February; call 0412 018 015 to register. The cost is $5 for members, $8 for non-members).

Government House, one of the first buildings to come under enemy aircraft fire, with the grounds and offices suffering direct hits, will be open from 11am to 2pm on 19 February.

The National Film and Sound Archives have in their care rare archival colour films of life in Darwin before and after the raids. These are being screened for the first time in forty years at 3.30pm on 19 February at the BCC Cinema, Mitchell Street.

Peter Grose, the author of The Awkward Truth will be speaking at 4pm on 20 February in the City of Darwin Library.

Parliament House is hosting, during normal opening times, a display of photographs of the original Post Office and Telegraph Station. There will also be an exhibition of photographs of Stokes Hill Wharf taken prior to, during and after the raids (Stokes Hill Wharf Function Room, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

For the full program click here