It was all over in five minutes but it managed to leave several people injured, a church in ruins and many homes in various states of disarray. Where it came from, no one knew.

Residents of Martyn Close, Gibbons Street, Cathcart Close and Hambidge Crescent experienced the devastation it left behind, as did Rob Miners, the Anglican rector of St Mary's.

The 72-year-old "relocated" church and adjoining amenities were destroyed.

Mr Miners and his family, several parishioners on a working bee, and a handful of contractors were working on the church when the willy-willy struck.

The church which had recently been relocated from Tumbarumba, was in three pieces awaiting final assembly before the storm struck.

The wind picked up a three-tonne wooden section and tossed it against the hut, 30 metres away.

One of the contractors had a miraculous escape when a large army hut was blown off its mounts and fell on him.

The church was beyond repair. The wooden remains would have made "a good barbie".

See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120872252