Memories of bridge opening

At just nine years old, John had scaled a pine tree near the eastern opening of the Martin Bridge.

"The trees had been cut off as my grandparents had been worried about lightning strikes," explained John.

John sat on the flat base metres up the tree. Here he had a clear view of row boats on the river and the mass of people walking the bridge for the first time.

Later John walked the bridge, although he has no distinctive memory of seeing the honourable host and guest of the day the, Minster for Works and Local Government and member for Oxley electorate the L O Martin, and the premier of New South Wales Alexander Mair.

"I would have seen them, but as a nine-year-old, I wasn't really interested," John said.

"The bridge was packed though and later looking at photos I found that one of the men at the front would later become my boss."

John worked at the Manning River Times for more than 40 years and held the role of general manager prior to his retirement in 1994.

John said that after the bridge's opening the most traffic the bridge would see was half a dozen cars backed up when the lift span rose.

"Now the traffic is hundreds of cars daily!"

John's memories extend back to the days of catching the punt, the only transport prior to the construction of Martin Bridge.

"Besides going to school, Friday night shopping was a popular time to catch the punt,"

"In winter it would be so cold the captain would let us sit along the boilers to keep warm."

On a few occasions the punt would get stuck during low tide on the gravel island in the middle of the Manning River.

When the bridge was being constructed John would talk to the workers on his way home from school.

"It took them two years to build it, that's pretty quick, I imagine it would take a lot longer these days"

John has lived on the Glenthorne side of the river for 84 years, and as an early riser, he has seen the bridge in its best and worst light.

"I remember the water rose only two feet from reaching the bridge in the 1978 flood"

Another momentous time in the bridge's history is when a 1940s Chev car nearly drove off the side.

"There was no structure where the lift span went up and down,"

"Somehow, the driver drove half way off.

"The front of the car was just hanging off the side."

These days the bridge helps John determine tide levels, to help in his pursuit for the perfect catch of fish.

This weekend John will take part in the recreation of the original bridge walk.

"I was thinking about climbing the tree again" John joked.

Those wishing to participate in the bridge walk are to meet on the Glenthorne side of the bridge from 9.30am, with the walk starting at 10am.

If you would like be part of the photo, but not the walk, wait on the Taree side of Martin Bridge just after 10am.

The Martin Bridge will be closed for 20 minutes during this time.

The celebrations continue with a day event located in River Street and in Fotheringham Park.

Attendees will enjoy market and food stalls, historical displays, entertainment and children's activities.

"The Bridge Across the Manning at Taree" The Official Opening

The Manning River Times, Taree, Saturday, May 18, 1940

FLAGS were provided for the decoration of the bridge, having been obtained from Sydney. The opening was quite novel.

The official party assembled on the lift span, which was then hoisted some five or six feet and thus the span was converted into a platform, from which the speakers addressed the gathering.

Those who could not get close to the speakers looked for the speeches to be brought to them by loud speakers at intervals along the bridge.

There were chairs on the span for the visitors and a table for the Press. The Premier, Mr. Alexander Mair motored from Newcastle yesteerday (Friday) morning, and on arrival had morning tea at Mr L.O. Martin's home.

He was met at Tinonee ferry by mounted officers of police and escorted to the town.

He was on the bridhe shortly after 11.

There were about 50 invited guests on the lifting span when it was lifted to make the platform.

Mr. H.E. Milligan presided and had Mr L.O. Martin on his left and the Premier on his right.