50th Anniversary of ‘Singing Bridge’ celebrated at Tea Gardens Hotel Myall Coast Myall Coast - popup ad Myall Coast News Photo Gallery by News Of The Area - Modern Media - April 11, 2024 The Red Cross float from the 1974 Opening parade, part of the local history display at the pub. CELEBRATIONS for the 50th Anniversary of the Singing Bridge saw multiple community groups converge for a singular day of uniquely local festivities at the Tea Gardens Hotel on Saturday 6 April. The Pearls of Port Stephens ran their stylish ‘Buy My Wardrobe’ pop-up op-shop in the Dolphin Room, giving new life to pre-loved clothing, helping save the environment, too. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Outside, the Tea Gardens Red Cross vended their trademark delectable home-baked goods, in preparation for their upcoming winter clothing drive. Several local artists, including Deb Florence’s DLF Artworks, and Carey Mason’s CFM Creations, displayed and sold images of the Bridge, flowers, watercolours, acrylics and rubbings, as well as jewellery, housewares and more. The petting zoo, by ‘Penny’s Ponies and Pets’ was popular with kids young and old, who enjoyed meeting Billy the goat, Lucy the Shetland pony, Woolly the sheep, Pink the cow, ducks and chickens, and some ultra-cute bunnies, fresh from their Easter exertions. Inside, among the Tea Gardens Local History group’s displays, was a special group of local ladies, vividly reminiscing about the Opening Day of the bridge 50 years prior. Jayne Worth, Rosalie Day (nee-Germon), Cheryl Newton, Pauline Barham (nee Christy) and Linda Clarke (nee-Germon) were all here in 1974, and even participated in the parade down Marine Street. The local ladies’ families were all attracted to town for various reasons pertinent to the 1970s and ‘60s, such as work with Mineral Deposits, at the pine plantations, building the sewer system and treatment plant at Hawks Nest, and the fishing industry. Jayne, from a fourth-generation fishing family, worked the take away shop in 1974, and said, “I got off work at the take away shop when the Bridge’s lights came on that night, that was my chance to see the Bridge fully.” “I was dressed as Lady Godiva in the parade, not actually nude, though, in a bodysuit and long hair!” Rosalie Day divulged. Cheryl Newton and Linda Clarke discovered that they were likely on the same Red Cross float in the parade, five decades hence. “Pre-bridge, there was no sewer system, so everyone was on septics… the king tides used to back up and overflow them, bringing it all up wherever it could come out – toilet bowls, gutters, everywhere!” the ladies recalled, thoroughly appreciating the modern-day sewer utility that now lies hidden beneath the Bridge. “It was so exciting when people started coming into town,” another said, a clear reminder of how the outdated punt had been stifling growth, for what were relatively young and industrious twin-towns back then. By Thomas O’KEEFE The Pearls of Port Stephens and their ‘Buy My Wardrobe’ pop-up op-shop in the Dolphin Room. Deb Florence, of DLF Artworks, with her paintings of the bridge and floral scenes. Carey Mason’s CFM Creations outside in the courtyard. The petting zoo was a big attraction for kids young and old. Tea Gardens Red Cross sold their unparalleled baked goods to raise money for warming the homeless this winter. Cheryl Newton indicating herself on the float at the 1974 parade down Marine Street, in the local history group’s display at the pub. Local ladies reunited 50 years on. (L-R) Jayne Worth, Rosalie Day (nee-Germon), Cheryl Newton, Pauline Barham (nee Christy), Linda Clarke (nee-Germon) – all were at the bridge opening in 1974. The quintessence of cuteness – a baby rabbit at the petting zoo.
