John Thompson Print Page 
The bench commemorates John Thompson, a victim of the severe storm which hit Wollongong in 1998.
On the 17th of August 1998, the small district of Wollongong was rattled by a severe storm with intense rainfall. Weeks before this incident, mining companies were clearing the escarpment for future developments, which caused loss of vegetation. To add to that, years of funding shortages meant creeks and drains remained blocked. The strong rainfall caused the newly bulldozed land to move causing landslides, mudslides and masses of saturated rock to spread downhill into the town below.
Two people died as a result of the Wollongong storm and thirty-seven other people were injured. Thousands of Wollongong residents and shop owners faced bankruptcy due to damaged property from landslides or floods and coal from disbanded mines was washed away leaving blackened streets and houses behind. About 150 homes were damaged plus 400 more homes that were flooded
Location
| Address: | Point & Blackall Streets, Sandon Point Reserve, Bulli, 2516 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.330278 Long: 150.926667 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Seat |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Tragedy |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 17-August-1998 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 17-August-1998 |
Dedication
This Seat was erected in Memory of
MR JOHN THOMPSON
who died tragically in the City`s storm disaster
of 17 August 1998.
The community of Wollongong shares the grief
of John`s loving wife Stephanie and family.
