Warning: this recording may be distressing to some viewers

Australia is no stranger to natural disasters. A land of droughts and flooding rains, bushfires and cyclones. But as the flattest continent in the world, earthquakes are a rarity – which is why the one that struck Newcastle and the wider Hunter on 28 December 1989 came as a shock. This amateur documentary footage from local Hamilton resident Ray Standen captures the rubble in close-up, before the news crews flooded in.

Despite the limits of his equipment, Standen draws on his local knowledge and proficient use of his handheld camera to illustrate the impacts of the disaster. Asides to the audience, quips about local landmarks and his rapport with community members add to the down-to-earth, authentic feel. Standen's warm approach to his subjects makes it all the more confronting when images of destruction unfold, including a horrified crowd gathered around a collapsed building where someone is trapped underneath.

A notable feature of the film is the dynamic editing, which not only shows panicked scenes but also casual conversations full of personality. The rhythm of daily life is established, then disrupted: the manager of the local Clancy's supermarket is interviewed by Standen before and after the earthquake, encapsulating the shock of the event. Standen captured over six hours of footage. The 5.6 magnitude earthquake resulted in the deaths of 13 people, with 160 hospitalised and damage to over 50,000 homes and buildings, costing upwards of $4 billion.