Lord Mayor hopes Hobartians remember sacrifices made
UPDATED: Hundreds of Hobartians have turned out to be some of the first to cross the city’s new Bridge of Remembrance. SEE THE PHOTOS
Tasmania
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HUNDREDS of Hobartians have turned out to be some of the first to cross the city’s new Bridge of Remembrance.
The $11 million bridge linking the Cenotaph and Soldiers Memorial Avenue was officially opened on Sunday.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds was joined by Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester and Tasmanian Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett to open the bridge.
Peter Aras, a former Australian infantry rifleman and his wife, Pip Rice, a nursing officer with Australian Army Reserve, were among the first to cross the bridge, with their three children.
“It’s lovely — very slick and new,” Mr Aras said, of the bridge.
“It’s important to link these two places and we just wanted to be part of it.”
Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue vice president John Wadsley smiled as he walked across the bridge for the first time.
“Ever since the Tasman Highway was pushed through, it effectively broke the connection between the Cenotpah and the Soldiers Memorial Avenue,” he said.
“So for our group, today is great occasion.”
Cr Reynolds said it was wonderful to open a new piece of public infrastructure with historic and cultural importance for Hobart.
“Not only does the bridge provide a beautiful entry point to our city but it connects two of Hobart’s most significant places of remembrance,” she said.
“I also hope this bridge reconnects the people of Hobart with the Queens Domain and it’s 568 acres of beautiful bushland.”
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Mr Barnett said places such as these were important because they acted as historical touchstones.
“They link the past to the present and enable us to remember and respect the sacrifice of those who died, fought, participated or were and continue to be affected by wars and conflicts over time,” he said.
“In a little over three weeks, people from around Hobart will gather on the Cenotaph for Anzac Day.
“The Bridge of Remembrance will provide Tasmanians the opportunity to easily visit the 520 men commemorated on Soldiers Memorial Avenue.”
EARLIER: The moment has finally arrived. Hobart’s newest bridge, the $11 million Bridge of Remembrance, will be open for public passage in just over an hour.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester and Tasmanian Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett will officially open the bridge sometime after 2.30pm today.
The opening ceremony will be held on the Cenotaph side of the bridge.
Members of the public will be able to cross the bridge from about 3.30pm.
The bridge will allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the busy Tasman Highway and connects two of Hobart’s most significant places of remembrance, the Cenotaph and Soldiers Memorial Avenue.
EARLIER: It is finally happening.
After several false starts, Hobart’s $11 million Bridge of Remembrance will be officially opened today, less than a month out from Anzac Day.
The bridge will connect two of Hobart’s most significant places of remembrance — the Cenotaph and the Soldiers Memorial Avenue.
The bridge will allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the busy Tasman Highway.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council was proud to see the project of such historical and cultural importance completed.
“We hope that as people walk across the bridge they will think of the sacrifice and courage of all Australians who served and lost their lives in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations since World War I,” she said.
PHOTO GALLERY: CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE
REMEMBRANCE BRIDGE SAGA DRAGS ON
LIFT OFF AT LAST FOR BRIDGE OF REMEMBRANCE
The Federal Government provided $8 million of the bridge funding through the Anzac Centenary Public Fund, with the Tasmanian Government initially underwriting this cost.
The balance was funded by Hobart City Council.
Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the bridge would commemorate more than 15,000 Tasmanians who enlisted during World War I and the 2500 who died.
“I congratulate and thank all those involved in seeing this important project come to fruition,” Mr Chester said.
“Tasmania has a proud military history which has been brought to the forefront in this precinct through a number of projects through the fund.
“This includes $300,000 to install a Flame of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, and more than $1 million to the Soldiers Memorial Avenue in Queens Domain.”
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The bridge has had a long road to completion.
It was initially meant to be ready for last year’s centenary commemoration of the end of WWI, but construction hit a snag when the contractor Fulton Hogan was not satisfied with the finish of the cladding.
It was then rescheduled for the weekend of November 2 to 4, but was cancelled because of bad weather.
Bad weather again ruined plans for the lift on the November 23-25 weekend.
The span of the bridge was eventually lifted into place over the weekend of January 19-21.
The official opening ceremony will be held at 2.30pm on the Hobart Cenotaph side of the bridge, adjacent to Anzac Parade.
Members of the public will be able to cross the bridge following the ceremony from about 3.30pm.
jim.alouat@news.com.au
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