Legendary Aussie cameraman who captured Cyclone Tracy on film dies aged 81 – following harrowing battle with dementia

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The renowned cameraman, Keith Bushnell, who documented the destruction caused by Cyclone Tracy in Darwin back in 1974, passed away at the age of 81.

On Friday, August 1, the long-time industry leader, leaving behind his daughter, Robin, unfortunately succumbed to a prolonged fight against dementia, as reported by NT News.

In the late ’50s, he, along with his family, relocated from England to Australia, where he commenced his media journey as a junior clerk at Channel Seven in Adelaide.

The cinematographer swiftly learned to operate and edit movies with a pre-owned 16mm camera on his own.

He’s renowned for his unwavering commitment to his profession. On one occasion, he shared with his lifelong associate Richard Creswick that he willingly took on every task assigned to him.

As an ardent enthusiast, I’ve had the privilege of delving into various racing arenas, from wrestling to speedway, even trotting races. Frequently, I found myself immersed in work during the wee hours, capturing, processing, and editing footage-a labor of love that never felt like a chore.

Following work experiences at Channel Seven and a short-term engagement at Channel Nine in Sydney, Bushnell secured a job shooting videos for ABC Darwin.

In the year 1974, he relocated to the Northern Territory, bringing along a specially modified Land Cruiser and a caravan that was equipped for developing films.

On Christmas Eve, 1974, Cyclone Tracy hit, forcing Bushnell to seek shelter with a coworker while the city was ravaged by the tempest.

As the sun was rising, together with a neighbor, he took his damaged Land Cruiser out to record the destruction. He managed to capture approximately ten minutes of color video footage of the aftermath.

The movie he made was quickly sent to Brisbane and aired on Boxing Day, making it the initial moving footage the country witnessed depicting Australia’s most significant natural disaster at that moment.

Bushnell’s shocking video documentation of the devastation following the cyclone, responsible for 66 fatalities and over half a billion dollars worth of destruction, provided clarity to the country about the scale of the disaster.

The footage earned him the inaugural Thorn Award for television news coverage and a $250 prize.

Heartbroken friends and fans took to social media to pay tribute to Bushnell.

‘I remember Keith as a good bloke,’ one person wrote.

After the cyclone, he spent time working in Canada and later returned to Darwin. In partnership with Creswick, he created government informational films and television advertisements there.

In later years, he lived on Kangaroo Island and in Bundanoon, NSW. 

After being diagnosed with dementia, he spent his final months in palliative care. 

Bushnell’s work continues to be an essential aspect of Australia’s media chronicles, as his camera immortalized a pivotal instant in the Northern Territory’s and the country’s history.

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2025-08-09 07:03