Imagine your favorite weekend plans, your eagerly awaited events, all suddenly vanishing. That's exactly what happened in Australia's Top End as Tropical Cyclone Fina rapidly gained strength. The question is, was everyone prepared, and were the right decisions made to ensure safety?
November 20th Update (3:30 PM): A wave of cancellations swept through Darwin, impacting sporting events and theatrical productions alike, all in anticipation of Tropical Cyclone Fina's arrival.
The Palmerston and Regional Basketball Association (PaRBA) pulled the plug on its scheduled games. But the heartbreak was especially palpable for Don’t Dream It Productions, forced to axe the final two performances of their acclaimed run of "The Rocky Horror Show." The production company expressed deep disappointment, explaining that rescheduling wasn't feasible due to the cast's commitments and the already tight production timeline. Ticket holders, however, were assured of a full refund. Their official statement emphasized that the decision was made following advice from Charles Darwin University and prioritizing the safety of everyone involved: “Due to the current cyclone situation and following advice from Charles Darwin University, we must cancel both Rocky Horror Show performances scheduled for this Saturday,” they stated. “Your safety, and the safety of our cast, crew, and staff, comes first.”
Adding to the list of disrupted events, the Victorian State Ballet's performance of "Swan Lake," originally slated for the AANT Centre on Friday and Saturday, has been postponed all the way to February 2026, a significant delay highlighting the severity of the situation.
Even before an official Cyclone Warning was issued, Darwin Rugby Union clubs made a proactive, unified decision to cancel their round of matches. Initially, games were planned to proceed under a Cyclone Watch. But here's where it gets controversial... The clubs, prioritizing player safety above competition, opted to cancel in advance, awarding each club two competition points. Junior semi-finals are now set to begin next Friday, with the final round of the senior home and away season following next week. PaRBA also cancelled all its scheduled activities at the Palmerston Recreation Centre for the weekend, including programs, training sessions, and games.
Interestingly, NTFL (AFL Northern Territory) and Darwin Basketball matches initially planned to continue under a Cyclone Watch, with cancellation only triggered by a Cyclone Warning. Tennis NT, however, took a more cautious approach, preemptively cancelling this week's Territory Junior League. Their statement explained: “While we are not yet at a warning we want to be as prepared as possible for when it is. We need to prepare the centre and we’d like to give families and other clubs ample time to prepare their homes.”
Furthermore, the Darwin Greyhounds were poised to abandon race meetings, following the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission's decision to cancel any race meeting subject to a Cyclone Watch or Warning. A contingency plan was in place: should the Cyclone Watch be lifted before scratching time on Sunday, stewards and the commission would assess the track and facilities to determine if racing could safely proceed.
Here's a quick recap of the cancelled events:
- "Rocky Horror Show" Saturday performances at Charles Darwin University Theatre
- Victorian State Ballet’s "Swan Lake" at the AANT Centre
- Scheduled games for Palmerston Peewees, Mini Ballers, and PJBC U11s, U13s, and U17s
- Tennis NT's Territory Junior League for the week
Earlier Developments (November 19th): As Tropical Cyclone Fina gathered momentum, Top End residents were urged to stay informed about potential flight changes and sporting event postponements. Shoppers were also reminded to avoid panic buying.
Emergency services emphasized the importance of preparedness without panic, as Tropical Cyclone Fina reached Category 2 on Wednesday afternoon. While no immediate evacuation plans were in place for remote communities, authorities stated their readiness for any developments. In West Arnhem, scheduled mobile council voting services were cancelled. The NT Electoral Commission (NTEC) cancelled remote polling services in Kakadu National Park headquarters, Mudginberri, and Jabiru. Voting services would be revised the following week.
In Darwin CBD, supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths experienced some shortages. At Coles in the Mitchell Centre, still water and baked beans were nowhere to be found, while eggs, tinned soup, and toilet paper were running low. Similarly, shoppers at Woolworths on Cavenagh Street had cleared out long-life milk, baked beans, tuna, still water, and toilet paper. A Woolworths spokesman advised customers to
