Naming contest over bridge creates split

THE naming of a new city bridge over the Tasman Highway is sparking friction between veteran service groups.

GRAGRAND DESIGN: Artist’s impression of planned bridge over the Tasman Highway near the Domain. Image: HOBART CITY COUNCIL

THE naming of a new city bridge over the Tasman Highway is sparking friction between veteran service groups.

Online voting for the name of the $8 million, 200m pedestrian bridge, which will connect the Cenotaph with Soldiers Memorial Avenue on the Domain, ends today.

It will then go to the State Government’s Nomenclature Board, the body that decides the state’s place names.

Three names are in the running: Bridge of Remembrance, Legacy Link and Peace Bridge.

But it is the push for Legacy Link to be included in the final three that has resulted in a groundswell of lobbying to aldermen, letters to the Mercury and a split emerging between veterans’ groups.

Legacy and its supporters are pushing for the name of that charity to be on the bridge.

The Legacy movement and charity was established in Hobart in 1923 by Major-General Sir John Gellibrand and has spread around the globe.

The volunteer-supported charity provides services to families of Australian veterans who have died or suffered an injury during or after their defence force service.

There is nothing in the Hobart CBD named after Sir Gellibrand or the movement and Legacy’s large number of supporters aim to rectify that through the online vote.

In its quest, Legacy has come against a number of groups, including the RSL’s Tasmania branch, Vietnam Veterans Association Tasmanian Branch, the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association, the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue and the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Association Tasmania.

Earlier this month, the Mercury reported that the five groups had published an open letter saying that it would be unfair to name the bridge after just one veteran organisation.

Hobart alderman Damon Thomas said it was disappointing that there was pushback against honouring the Legacy movement in the city.

“I’m sad it has gotten to this point,” he said.

“We want something that is synonymous with Hobart and legacy is a organisation that is known around the world and one that has its roots here.

“It’s the only name that will enshrine a wonderful movement that is Hobart-inspired.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said aldermen had been approached by numerous people from both sides pushing their case.

“It has stirred up so much in the community,” she said.