2006 Sydney New Year’s Eve
A unique tribute to the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the feature of this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, with spectacular fireworks displays and special effects never seen before in Australia, including a 100m wide bridge effect with over 1,000 shimmering lights.
All festivities will be based on this year’s theme “A Diamond Night in Emerald City” – reflecting the 75th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and drawing on the classic story The Wizard of Oz (featuring the Emerald City).
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP and NYE Creative Director Wayne Harrison unveiled plans for Sydney’s NYE celebrations. Mr Harrison said; “New Year’s Eve will usher in the start of year-long celebrations for one of Sydney’s most loved icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”
“The bridge is the centrepiece of our harbour. We’ve designed fireworks and celebrations to match. Our much loved coat-hanger will be the life of the party, dressed to the nines, the jewel in our Emerald City.”
Mr Harrison said diamonds were the stones commonly used to mark 75th anniversaries, while the Emerald City was the title of the 1985 David Williamson play, which itself borrowed from the children’s classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The play compared Sydney to the glittering, seductive city at the heart of the Oz books and films.
“Sydney is the first major city the world watches celebrate New Year’s Eve. More than one million people are expected to gather at various vantage points to join the City’s party.”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said; “New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on the year that was and to be inspired with hope for the year ahead. This New Year’s Eve promises A Diamond Night in Emerald City, a dual celebration marking the start of 2007 and the Diamond Jubilee year of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, opened 75 years ago.”
“But as we party by the shores of our dazzling harbour, I hope we will also remember all those who do not share our good fortune. I ask you to be generous this year in support of Médecins Sans Frontières who are great ambassadors for humanity, ambassadors from the world of the lucky – like us Australians – to those who have not been so fortunate.”
The City of Sydney has announced Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia as the official 2006 New Year’s Eve charity.
The Lord Mayor also encouraged event goers to plan their night in advance, celebrate safely by looking after friends, and keep the harbour sparkling into 2007 by picking up their rubbish. The City has committed to recycling at least 80 percent of all rubbish collected.
Vantage points, event details, safe celebrating and transport tips are available at sydneynewyearseve.com or by phoning the City of Sydney 02 9265 9333.
2006 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by Network Ten, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2Day FM, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Roads & Traffic Authority, Bendigo Bank, Bytecraft, Windowrie, Diageo, Coca-Cola Amatil, TruEnergy, Foster’s Australia and First Aid Sponsor Medibank Private.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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