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Lawrence Public School captions Noah Anderson and Bethany Chambers assisted Clarence Valley Mayor Jim Simmons and Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis with the cutting of the ribbon on Saturday, to officially open the Sportsmans Creek Bridge at Lawrence

Bridge opening goes ahead despite rain

Lynne Mowbray | Saturday morning’s inclement weather didn’t deter the community from coming out in droves to witness the historical opening of the new Sportsmans Creek Bridge at Lawrence. Several hundred people attended the official ceremony which began at 9.30am. The crowd spilled out from underneath the large marquee, taking shelter from the rain under a sea of umbrellas. MC for the opening ceremony was John Alexander, Director, Northern Region RMS with Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis and Clarence Valley Council [CVC] mayor Jim Simmons both taking part in the ceremony. The crowd all stood and joined in with the Lawrence Public School choir, to sing the national anthem. Due to rain on the morning, the official tree planting ceremony which was scheduled to take place at the conclusion of the official ceremony; was postponed. At the conclusion of the ceremony there was a ribbon cutting which was conducted by CVC mayor Jim Simmons and Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis with the assistance of Lawrence Public School captains Noah Anderson and Bethany Chambers. The community were then invited to take a walk across the new bridge. The special event was attended by several long term residents and many descendants of some of the early settlers in Lawrence. Doug Short who has lived in Lower Southgate for the last 96 years was possibly one of the oldest residents to attend Saturday’s special event. He has lived in the family home at ‘Elisome’ all his life. Mr Short said that the new bridge was an advancement for the community of Lawrence. The Reeves family were also early settlers in Lawrence and both Robert and Christine Reeves and Roger and Dulcie Reeves, along with members of their family attended the special event. Robert 79, said: ‘The old bridge has served the community well, but the new one’s going to be fantastic’. Flo Clark 86 (whose name is on the adjoining park beside the bridge) was married to Frank Clark (dec) a former long serving member of local government, said that she would not miss the rattling all night of the traffic travelling across the old wooden bridge. “It (the old bridge) has served its purpose for the community and it’s nice to have a new one,” said Mrs Clark.
At the end of Saturday’s opening ceremony, many of the community couldn’t wait to walk across the new bridge
Part of the huge crowd which braved the wet conditions on Saturday to attend the official opening of the Sportsmans Creek Bridge at Lawrence.
Lawrence resident Esther Smith 94, was one of the first to walk across the Grafton Bridge when it opened in 1932. On Saturday, Esther couldn’t wait to be one of the first to walk across the new Sportsmans Creek Bridge.
David Price of Grafton with his dog Meg, were one of the first to walk across the new bridge.
Robert and Christine Reeves of Lawrence
Pauline Glasser, Bruce Green and Doug Short 96, of Lower Southgate. Doug has lived on the family property ‘Elisome’, all his life.