Sydney Celebrations

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 17

Sydney Celebrations

BRIDGE WEEK FESTIVITIES. A WHIRL OF GAIETY. How many people spoke up boldly a year or two ago, saying “I think we’ll make up our minds to go over to Sydney for the opening of the Bridge in 1932.” I know there were many who said this to me — people whom I have seen enjoying the Invercargill sunshine during this week’s beginning, and even scuttling in proofed coats during the rainy days. Hope was high before the dread Depression raised its head; not that Hope is dead now, by any means. But there is an all-embracing impecunious Shadow these days, in whose dull light money has lost its sparkle, lost its beckoning eye pointing Sydney-wards. Most of us have stayed at home.. There is a faint tinge of melancholy, therefore, in one’s persual of the newspapers in search of all the grand particulars. Certainly it would have been very fine to come back to New Zealand and say, “Yes, I actually saw de Groot ... . ” But, anyway, reading about them is the next best thing, and the following Sydney newspaperwoman’s account of preliminary arrangements for the proposed festivity programme is really rather stirring:— “If you’ve got a grouch or a depression complex or a hard-luck story to tell, it’s no use ventilating it for another couple of

weeks, because nobody wants to hear it. You’d better fold it away until after the Bridge festivities are over, and then, maybe, you’ll have forgotten about it. There simply isn’t any room for depression in the programme that has been drawn up to keep Sydney, interstate and overseas visitors on the move, and thoroughly entertained for the week being given over to celebrating the biggest event in Australia’s history since the opening of the Federal Capital at Canberra—the opening of the largest arch bridge in the world, which spans our Sydney Harbour. “Thirty-six Harbour Bridge Celebration Committees have not been working for months without producing a hive of industry and a huge wave of enthusiasm. Everyone is thrilling to this historical event, one which threatens to rival the opening of the Federal Capital for spectacular celebrations and entertainments.

“Sydney promises to go ‘all social’ again. Talk of the depression is drowned in the exciting chatter of what to do and where to go in Bridge Week. More parties will be crowded into that one week than Sydney has had for months, and it will only end to bring us to another festive tune—Easter. “The city will be thronged with thousands of visitors from the other States and from overseas. Perhaps the most distinguished English visitors will be the Honourable R. D. Kitson, youngest son of the first Lord of Airedale, and Mrs Kitson, who will continue on here on the Orford. He has come from England as deputy chairman of Dorman, Long and Co., to represent the firm at the official opening of the Harbour Bridge on Saturday morning. The Governor and Lady Game will entertain them at a luncheon together with Sir Alan and Lady Anderson, parents of Miss Morna MacCormick’s fiance, at Government House on Thursday.

“So that everyone will be in true carnival spirit by the time the great day dawns, a series of pre-Bridge festivities has been planned. Tire 200 country women who have arrived in town, together with the Countess of Jersey, Lady Isaacs, Lady Game, the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Sam Walder are among those invited to a garden party tomorrow, Monday, at Mrs Hubert Fairfax’s home at Double Bay. The roof garden of the Forum Club will be illuminated on Wednesday, the night of the younger members’ invitation dance at the club, with dancing in the ballroom and supper on the roof.

“North Sydney has a thrilling opening to its celebrations in the North Sydney Mayoral Ball at the Waringa Hall on Thursevening, when the'Mayor of North Sydney, Aiderman H. L. Primrose and Mrs Primrose will be the official hosts to the Gov-ernor-General and Lady Isaacs, the Governor and Lady Game, and the visiting ViceRegal Government House guests, Sir Alexander and Lady- Here Ruthven, from Adelaide, and Sir William and Lady Irvine, from Melbourne. That night will be the reopening of the Australia Hotel’s new ballroom.

“Friday brings five big pre-bridge parties. In the afternoon will be the big garden party of 2000 guests at Government House, while the evening folk will look out their invitations to the Lord Mayor’s Ball at the Town Hall, with Aiderman Walder and the Lady Mayoress, Mrs S. Walder, receiving the guests, or for the Bachelors’ Dance at the Rose Bay Golf dub. Orchestras will be playing at Hordern Bros, for the Sydney Rowing Club and at Farmer’s for the dance for the TJ3. Clinic.

“The big day itself, March 19, offers a wealth of fixtures to choose from. Once the Premier, Mr Lang, has cut the ribbon (our journalist evidently had no premonitions about the existence of a Cap'tain de Groot!) and the one and a quarter mile long procession has completed the five mile route, and the procession of vessels has passed under the Bridge, thousands will flock to the A.J.C. races at Randwick and to the other sporting events. “Women will contribute to the programme at the Olympiad athletic meeting at the Manly Oval. “It is fitting that on such a historical day a pageant of historical interest should be staged, and hundreds will take part in the one in the grounds of Wentworth House, Vaucluse, on Saturday, afternoon, in aid of the Queen Victoria Homes. ‘lnvitations for a cocktail party to view the Bridge and the illuminations that evening from 6 until 7.30, from the roof garden of Kyle House, have been issued by the Macarthur Shipping Co! Ltd. Charities should reap a harvest from some of the balls that night, which include the Bridge Ball at David Jones’ for Tresillian Hospitals, the Courtyard Dance at Burdekin House for Royal Prince Albert Hospital, and at which, the Earl and Countess of

Jersey will be guests of honour, and Misses Doreen Hordern, Dorothy. Tait, Pamela Osborne, Mary Hordern, Gretel Bullmore, Mary. Harvey, Margaret Honey and Marjorie Ward will be hostesses; the ball on board the Nieuw Zeeland, which will be berthed at the Quay, for the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society; lhe dance at Nock and Kirby's for St. Thomas's, Lewisham; the ball at the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Point Piper; and a military ball by officers of the Ist Cavalry Divisional Signallers at the State Assembly; and a dance by the West Marrickvillc National Younger Set at Hordern Bros.

“Bridge Week brings with it an invitation dance by well-known hosts and hostesses at the State Assembly on March 21, a dance, mostly for young people, on March 22, given by Janet Thatcher’s people at No. 11 Onslow Avenue, before she leaves for England to make her bow at the Juno Courts, and a dance the following night at “Rotford Hall," Darling Point, given by Mr and Mrs Anthony Hordern. March 23 wrill also see a crowd dancing at David Jones’ nt the Autumn Ball for the deaf, dumb and blind children, and others enjoying picnic faro at the Kindergarten Union Younger Set’s dance at the State Assembly,

“The Red Cross Headquarters’ Younger Set is busy selling tickets for the huge Bridge luncheon at the Town Hall on March 24, and the last few tickets are also going for the Little Citizens’ Free Kindergarten dance at the Royal Motor Yacht Club on March 26.

“That brings us to the opening day of the Easter race meetings at Randwick, and a week which will include the Lucky Key Ball at David Jones’ for Furlough House and the Australian Mothercraft Society; the tea dansant and mannequin parade, after the races at the State Assembly, for Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, on March 30; and the Matron’s Ball at which Mesdames Charles Rundle, W. Wentworth, Harold Fairfax, T. Lamb, Frederick Merewether, E. Lucy, Hubert Gordon, Leslie Williams, Ramsay Sharp, and Bickerton Blackburn will be hostesses at Farmer’s that evening. Rehearsals are going ahead for the historical pageant for the Australian Historical Ball, at David Jones’ on March 31, for the Far West Health Scheme, and which will share that date with the Benevolent Society with a ball on board the Kitano Mani.

“Easter Week will close with what promises to be a very bright Artists’ Ball at the Town Hall on April 1, a dinner and dance at the Rose Bay Golf Club, and a Blue Roses Revel at the State Assembly on April 2.” And yet one is assured that Sydney really has heard of the Depression!