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Baby in ammo box Mikaela Bamess returns to WA’s cyclone zone

Kent Acott and Elle FarcicThe West Australian
Mikaela Bamess was nestled in the ammunition box during cyclone Vance
Camera IconMikaela Bamess was nestled in the ammunition box during cyclone Vance Credit: Supplied

Twenty years after she was placed into an old ammunition box to protect her from one of Australia’s worst ever cyclones, Mikaela Bamess has returned to WA’s cyclone zone to start a new life with the man of her dreams.

Ms Bamess has moved to Karratha — just a few hundred kilometres up the road from her first home in Exmouth, which was smashed by cyclone Vance on March 22, 1999.

The category-five cyclone left a trail of destruction, devastating families and causing $35 million damage.

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Mikaela was only two weeks old and in Exmouth with her parents, Michelle and James Bamess, and her grandparents.

As the cyclone approached, they decided they would put Mikaela in the steel box and seek shelter in a Toyota LandCruiser, which was parked in a shed, if things took a turn for the worse.

Mrs Bamess was preparing a bottle for her daughter in the morning when a piece of tin pierced a window, changing the air pressure in the house and causing the roof to lift.

The family sprang into action and put Mikaela in the padded box before closing the lid and making their way across the backyard.

“Dad went first carrying Mikaela so that if he dropped her or was hit by something then James could pick her up and keep going,” Mrs Bamess recalled.

“There was that much rain and wind that everything was white. You couldn’t see what was coming at you until it was there and when James ran I watched this hose reel fly straight past his face.”

Brenden Wraight and Mikaela Bamess in Karratha.
Camera IconBrenden Wraight and Mikaela Bamess in Karratha. Credit: Alicia Perera

Mikaela, who weighed just over 2kg, made it to the shed unscathed along with her parents, grandparents, aunt, a cat and a dog.

She spent the next few hours sleeping in the open box as her family huddled in the car waiting for the wild weather to pass.

They emerged from the shed to a town that resembled a war zone and soon discovered Mr and Mrs Bamess’ rental home had been destroyed.

“It was very scary and traumatic and even now I find really strong winds freak me out,” Mrs Bamess said. “My dad has still got that ammunition box. We won’t ever get rid of it.”

Mrs Bamess, who was just 16 at the time, was given second-hand furniture and clothes from people in the community who had heard about their plight. She still has shawl that a stranger made for Mikaela after the cyclone Vance.

After a stint in Perth, the family reunited in Exmouth several weeks later and stayed for the next 10 years. They then moved to Perth.

Now 20, Mikaela moved to Karratha to be closer to her father and convinced boyfriend Brenden Wraight to join her. They have made a home and have both found work.

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