Sydney shows heart as it turns NYE bash into fundraiser
Sydney has shown it can party with a conscience as it combined harbourside fireworks hedonism with a huge display of heart to usher in the new year.
NSW
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Sydney has shown it can party with a conscience as it combined harbourside fireworks hedonism with a huge display of heart to usher in the new year.
Amid calls to cancel the event because of bushfires burning across the state, revellers turned the global showpiece into a giant fundraiser for victims of the devastating blazes.
Calls to donate to the Red Cross were plastered on the Harbour Bridge throughout the night and donation boxes were plentiful around the harbour. The ABC broadcast and live events also had several reminders for those watching to give generously.
A large “beam of unity” was projected off the Harbour Bridge shooting into the sky, with organisers calling it a symbol of hope.
Red Cross acting chief executive Noel Clement said their donations line got a lot of support on New Year’s Eve.
“We have had children contacting to donate their pocket money. We are getting former bushfire victims saying they know what it feels like and wanting to give to others,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for people to reflect and think about others and the impact of disasters on others.”
By 5pm yesterday, about $320,000 had been raised while the City of Sydney has donated $620,000 to bushfire and drought-affected communities.
Partygoers last night said the air was filled with community spirit and generosity.
American tourist Justin Ostergard camped out at The Domain from 6.30am and said he was overwhelmed by how much people wanted to donate.
“The spirit is high and there are donation boxes everywhere. People really care and want to help,” Mr Ostergard said.
“There are so many people here wanting to give, tourists who don’t have the currency or people with no cash are asking how they might be able to give.”
The Rural Fire Service on Monday granted the fireworks — watched by a billion people across the world — an exemption from the total fire ban.
More than 8000 tonnes of fireworks, 40,000 shooting ground-based effects, 13,000 shells and more than 100,000 pyrotechnic effects will light up the harbour during the evening.
German tourists Johanna Brinkrolf and Leon Hyttel said it was their lifelong dream to see the Sydney fireworks but they would have understood if the event was cancelled.
“It was our biggest dream to come to Sydney and see the fireworks (and) it’s a special year in 2020,” Mr Hyttel said.
“When we travelled here we were a bit nervous because of the bushfires but we are OK now. We would have understood if it was cancelled because of the environment and it’s better to save the environment but we are very excited to see it happen.”
A City spokesman confirmed all ticketed vantage points except Pirrama Park had sold out.