Waipa District Mayor Alan Livingston says that next weekend’s Victoria Bridge centenary is about celebrating not just a significant engineering project, but 100 years of progress.
“It is a significant milestone in the history of Cambridge. We need to appropriately celebrate the centenary of this Cambridge icon, and I would encourage people to attend the ceremony, to enjoy and share in the event and to be part of Cambridge history”.
The official programme on December 15, beginning at 1.30pm, showcases 100 years of progress in Cambridge, from the replication of the 1907 ceremony, to the 45 car parade covering 100 years of transportation, to the release of 100 balloons by 75 children representing Cambridge schools and descendants of Cambridge’s original families.
Replicating the original ceremony was a great way of honouring the efforts of those people involved in the 1907 opening, said Mr Livingston.
“In 1907, Cambridge had a population of 2400, and a mere 7 cars to test the bridge, but it was opened by the Governor, Lord Plunket, and the ceremony was attended by five MP’s, 13 Mayors and four county chairmen. We are delighted that our centenary celebrations will be officiated by His Excellency the Governor-General Anand Satyanand, joined by Te Arikinui King Tuheitia”.
The Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) will also be unveiling a plaque to commemorate the historical significance of the engineering project that was a joint effort between New Zealand and United States engineers, and now sees 12,000 vehicle crossings per day.
Members of the public are warmly invited to attend the celebrations.
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For further information, please contact:
Nicki Davidson
Communications Advisor
Waipa District Council
Ph: 07 872 0062
Email: Nicki.Davidson@waipadc.govt.nz