Sydney Harbour Bridge 75th Anniversary Celebrations 18 March 2007

Earlier this year Parramatta High School was invited to participate in celebrations for the anniversary of the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 75 years ago, 1932 school captains - Mabel Gillies and Ronald Turner were among the many students from schools across Sydney who attended the opening of the Harbour Bridge. That same year, the students staged a re-enactment of the ceremony using "Lacey's Old Horse" as de Groot's stead. This time, it was 2007 school captains, Kimberley and Daniel, who had the honour of participating in the celebrations.

On an overcast day, 1000 people gathered at the northern pylons to be the first to walk across the bridge. Those assembled were treated to a moving performance of the didgeridoo from the gantry above. Jessica Mauboy led the singing of the national anthem accompanied by The Sydney Harbour Bridge Choir. The Hon. Morris Iemma MP, Premier of NSW reminded those assembled of the 16 workers who lost their lives in the construction of the bridge, later dedicating a memorial plaque. The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO spoke of the bridge's importance as an easily recognisable symbol of Sydney before the official cutting of the ribbon using the scissors from the original ceremony. With that, the walk across the bridge began.

A recording of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing the Our Bridge Concerto composed by Elena Kats-Chernin was broadcast followed by music and sound bites highlighting the bridge's 75 years. Fireworks exploded above and the ferries of Sydney sounded their horns in triumph below. 200,000 people had registered to walk across the bridge with many more joining in the festivities planned around the Rocks and Darling Harbour. From sunset until 10.00pm the bridge was bathed in special coloured lighting. It was re-opened to traffic at 11.00pm.

Click on the links below to see the program from the Official Ceremony Page 2--/--Page 3--/--Page 4

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