#52 Ancestors 2021 - Week 23
Bridge
I have written before about my great grandfather, Robert
White, who made a lasting impact on the city of Lismore (NSW) during his many
years as an Alderman (Councillor).
Some of this contribution has been forgotten over time. He was, for example, the strongest and most
influential advocate for the establishment of the South Lismore Public
School. He was also the loudest and
longest voice pushing for South Lismore to be connected to the town sewerage
system.
He also lobbied for a bridge over Leycester Creek to connect
North and South Lismore, so when that construction was approved, it was
unsurprising that the bridge should be named after him.
It was the South Lismore Progress Association which
suggested that the bridge be called The Robert White Bridge and this group also
planned the opening ceremony which was scheduled for 26 June 1926. They held a euchre tournament to raise funds
for children’s sports on the day, and everyone was asked to bring a basket
picnic.
It rained on 26 June, so the postponed "christening" took place two
weeks later in a ceremony attended by hundreds of Lismore citizens. Alderman White’s 25 years of service to the
community was praised by all the speakers , many of whom referred to the fact that
he had been born within a few hundred metres of the bridge and lived most of
his life in the area. *
The bridge cost 8867 Pounds and was described as a “fine
high level structure about 340’ in length with two truss spans and seven approach
spans”.
The devastating flood of 1956 was responsible for the destruction
of this first Robert White bridge. The centre span was washed away by the
enormous power of the water pouring down Leycester Creek and into the Wilson River. Eyewitnesses reported that a local farmer had
just reached the other side with a herd of jersey cows when the span gave way.
(Picture from The Northern Star")
Eight years later, in 1963, a new bridge was opened, at the same time as the long awaited bridge at Ballina Street which is now the main crossing of the river into the city. This new bridge was also named the Robert White Bridge. Since then, there have been several huge floods, but the bridge has stayed firm above them all.
(the plaque says, "Robert White Bridge officially opened by the Hon P D Hills M.L.A, Minister for Local Government and Highways on 7th September 1963 to replace the original structure built in 1926 and destroyed by flood in 1956")
In 2016, after I moved to live near Lismore, I was sorry to find that the “Robert White Bridge” sign was small and difficult to see on the approach to the bridge, so I asked Lismore City Council if they might replace it.
They were happy to do so, and on the day of the official opening, Robert’s granddaughter Phyllis Mitchell (nee Lehmann) and three of Robert’s great-grandchildren were present. Lyn McLean (daughter of Robert’s daughter, Sis) brought with her the brass Jardinere that the South Lismore Progress Association had presented to Robert on the day of that first opening in 1926.
Lyn McLean, Phyllis Mitchell, Jill McCann
*
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