Adelaide bridge named for VC recipient

Antipodean Andy · Aug 13, 2008

Official opening for new Port bridges - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

There has been an official opening of the new Port River bridges in Adelaide's north-west.

Completion of the Tom 'Diver' Derrick road bridge was delayed by almost a year.

It took three years to complete the twin road and rail bridges, at a cost of $178 million.

The road bridge is named after World War II Victoria Cross winner Tom Derrick, who also enjoyed swimming in the Port River.

Smaller boats can fit underneath but traffic can be stopped and the bridge opened for larger ones.

The other bridge takes the name of former mother superior-general, Mary MacKillop, from the order of the sisters of St Joseph.

Traffic will be allowed on the bridge from Sunday afternoon, but pedestrians get their chance after the opening.

Premier Mike Rann performed the official proceedings.

Mr Derrick's sister, Rose Stirling, was there to hear the Premier speak about her brother.

"Another great South Australian defined by the word courage - one of the greatest war heroes that South Australia, and Australia, has ever seen," Mr Rann said.

"I mean, there's a number of roads and parks and so on that have been named after 'Diver' Derrick, but both Mary MacKillop and 'Diver' Derrick were associated with the port of Adelaide."
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Tom Derrick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antipodean Andy · Aug 13, 2008

Bridge was actually renamed to honour Derrick. Well done, the locals!

Name backdown for new Port bridge - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The name of one of the new bridges over the Port River in Adelaide has been changed.

The road bridge was to be named the Power bridge after the AFL team.

But swayed by a community campaign, the South Australian Government has decided to name the bridge after the decorated World War II veteran, Tom "Diver" Derrick.

Former federal MP for Port Adelaide, Rod Sawford, says he is pleased that one the Port's local identities has been recognised.

"I'm delighted. I think the Government has made the right decision and it vindicates the campaign that's been run by many community leaders and many grassroots supporters," he said.
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spidge · Aug 13, 2008

A better monument to a VC hero I could not think of. Maybe they were trying to emulate Victoria by naming a bridge after a Australian rules Footballer. We named a bridge in the outer ring road the Ted Whitten Bridge.

Antipodean Andy · Aug 13, 2008

Perth has a tunnel named after Polly Farmer. Naturally, it's called the Polly Pipe...

Kyt · Aug 13, 2008

There is a rest area on the road to Murray's Flats named after Derrick:

New South Wales Road Photo Gallery: National Highway 31 (Hume Highway) (Mittagong to Goulburn)

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