A bridge too far
AT 97, local resident Grace Mawhinney has seen plenty of change. She has lived through world wars and the Great Depression.
Born in Inverell, the great-grandmother lived in Peak Hill during her childhood where she was the youngest of five children.
“The Depression was in full swing when we were growing up. It was hand to mouth all the time. It wasn’t easy. People these days can’t manage, we could have taught them something.”
She also remembers times of flood in both Dubbo and Bourke, where she also lived.
“I remember the 1954 flood when the water was up to Gipps Street,” she recalled.
“A lot of people lost all their furniture and everything because it was so quick. The Talbragar River pushed up the water in the Macquarie. It didn’t give anybody time to do anything.
“They weren’t expecting it. We had a friend in North Dubbo who asked if we could put furniture in the shed because we lived in South Dubbo,” she told Dubbo
It was a similar story in 2010 when many retailers in Macquarie Street lost stock due to flooding at the back of their shops.
And in Bourke, where Mrs Mawhinney lived for 14 years, she witnessed the town saved by its levy bank and the steps taken by dedicated citizens.
“The whole town was protected by the levy; it was saved by all the workers.”
With the State Government set to fund a new multi-million-dollar third bridge for Dubbo to accommodate additional traffic flow, particularly during times of flood, Mrs Mawhinney decided to put pen to paper and raise her objection to the project. Like many The Third Bridge By Grace Mawhinney In a place not too far off Stands a new shiny bridge A symbol of man’s lack of brains
The public said ‘no’ “Don’t put it out there” But bureaucracy always wins out
So we have a new bridge Right in the wrong place The flood will come down The road will go under The public will be left to wonder others in the city, she is unhappy about its placement.
“I’m very interested in it, all the controversy,” she told Dubbo Photo
Mrs Mawhinney’s words are in the form of a poem.
“I’ve been writing poetry for a long time,” she said.
“Especially if it’s something that suits the occasion at the time. I put it away in a drawer normally. It’s mostly shared with family and friends. I wrote about the Council merger too; I didn’t think it was a good idea. I also wrote a story about the Bourke flood that was published in the paper.
“The bridge issue got my attention this time. I’ve been very worried about where they want to put it. I don’t want them to put it in the wrong place. I didn’t think it would work.
“I wanted to write the poem to make people aware of it. If it was built in North Dubbo, I couldn’t see the point. It’s going to cost a fortune and for what?”
Mrs Mawhinney would prefer to see the new bridge built in South Dubbo by the old railway bridge.
“If they built it there, they could try to bring the traffic through to Wheelers Lane and Sheraton Road.
“They could let the heavy traffic into town off the highway. It wouldn’t be half as congested. That’s what I would like to see. There was also not enough community consultation.”
Reflecting on almost a century in the city, Mrs Mawhinney said there was an old ‘white bridge’ which crossed the river at Bultje Street prior to the construction of the L.H. Ford Bridge.
“A lot has changed around Dubbo, all the good old buildings pulled down. I don’t think it’s a good thing that technology has taken over. We used to swim in the Macquarie. There was no traffic in those days.
“I love Dubbo, I think it’s beautiful.”