Forty Seconds: Memories of the 1968 Meckering Earthquake

WEST AUSTRALIANA

It took just forty seconds to destroy a town.At 10.58 am on 14th October 1968, the rural Western Australian town of Meckering was razed to the ground by the force of mother nature. An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale lasting forty seconds tore through the town destroying much of this farming community’s livelihood and means of communication with the outside world.At the time, Alice Snooke was a pregnant farmer’s wife hanging out her washing while her 17-month-old daughter slept inside their home. She watched in horror as her farmhouse was completely destroyed, just managing to save her child.She wasn’t the only one.Alice has compiled recollections of the earthquake from many of those affected, including her own, providing first-hand accounts of the historical event that changed Meckering forever.”The earth moved under my feet. I had no idea what it was.”- Alice Snooke

pp. 218 illusts First Edition SCARCE #270823 Signed by Author