In praise of the passing parade

My Window_sill. A hole in the wall of life

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Sydney Harbour Bridge birthday

Today was the 75th birthday of the Sydney Harbour bridge. No big deal, I thought. Who gets excited about an insignificant anniversary for a pile of old iron. The only reason so much money was poured into the celebration was the state government election next week; the old folk wisdom of giving the suckers bread and circuses was well designed to distract the hapless voters from the problems with this crumbling overburdened state. The Harbour bridge is the only serious asset not falling apart.
But then I got an email from the indigious group trying to promote reconciliation between the white and black tribes. I had marched across the bridge with them in 2000, for "Sorry Day"
So I thought I'd like to go with them again.
It was a great way to spend a late Sunday afternoon. On the bridge there was a smoking ceremony, supported by the State Governor Professor Marie Bashir AC
Using a good old gas lighter to set fire to some twigs and eucalyptus leaves, the smoking tray was carried across the bridge as light gradually faded.
The government gave a coloured cap to every one who walked across the bridge ( 200 000 people), and those who went after dusk had a little torchlight built into the ochre cap.
While we walked across the bridge, indiginous music was pumped across the bridge, along with smoke machines pushing more burning eucalyptus.
It was great fun, but with failing light, my video at YouTube shows a bit like the Blair witch project

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