TRUE community spirit was celebrated on Saturday, November 18 when the village of Kindee came together to mark the special anniversary of Australia’s oldest suspension bridge.
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There was pomp and fanfare and a tale or two to tell with all funds raised from the event going back into the running and maintenance of Kindee hall.
Descendants of Kindee’s Hollis family gathered with generations of the region’s original settlers to mark the bridge’s 80th year.
The Wingham and Hastings Marching Bagpipe Band played while vintage cars paraded over the historic structure.
Kindee’s oldest resident Dot McKinnon cut the cake with 80-year-old Lenny Kirkman, who was the first baby to be taken across the bridge when it was opened in 1936.
The Hastings Country Music Club entertained the crowds after lunch at the hall.
“This is all about enthusiasm and generosity,” said organiser Laurie Steep. “This is what keeps our community going.”
Cr Sharon Griffiths attended and applauded the community for their spirit.
“It is great to come our to these parts of our region and see what rural communities are all about,” she said.
The Kindee Suspension Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in Australia. It crosses the Hastings River upstream of its junction with Kindee Creek, several kilometres from Long Flat.
The steel was sourced from Newcastle and the timber was supplied locally.
The contractor employed to build the bridge R.B Hayden was unfortunately killed during its construction and the work was completed by the then Department of Main Roads.
The bridge is still in use today.