A bridge name too far?
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A bridge name too far?

Posted September 29th, 2009 by debritz

I not entirely sure what to think about the decision to name the new Brisbane bridge after The Go-Betweens. Certainly it does pay tribute to Brisbaneites who made it big on the world stage -- and it's far preferable to naming it after a politician -- but I'm sure many older Queenslanders will be scratching their heads. Talkback radio will be full of outrage today. And, as I noted on my recent radio encounter with 4BC's Peter Dick, we have yet to have any public acknowledgement of many of our other great artists (let alone scientists and other achievers), including Queensland Theatre Company founder Alan Edwards.

Brett, I believe it's

Brett, I believe it's vindication for Go-Betweens fans. I remember there was a push back when the Green Bridge was being built, for the bridge to be named Go-Between Bridge, but was pipped by Eleanor Schonell Bridge.

At least it didn't end up being called iBridge 9.0 (the 9.0 representing ninth bridge from the mouth of the Brisbane River.)

Or worse, naming it for a footballer...

Posted by Kuttsywood (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 10:44
My concern is that, with
My concern is that, with apologies to their very active fanbase, the Go-Betweens never really were that big or had wide recognition locally or internationally (although they had a cult following in Europe). Certainly Brisbane has had arguably more notable and undeniably more successful musical exports, including the likes of the Bee Gees (who got their first break here), The Saints, Powderfinger, Mike Chapman (the songwriter for Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Smokie and Mud), Billy Thorpe and opera star Jeffrey Black. Then, of course, there are actors such as Geoffrey Rush, Ray Barrett, Barry Otto, Sigrid Thornton, Bille Brown, Diane Cilento, Barry Creyton, Carol Burns and Leonard Teale, and writers including David Malouf, Nick Earls and John Birmingham.

Posted by debritz on September 29, 2009 - 11:06
Can you imagine, the Sigrid

Can you imagine, the Sigrid Thornton Bridge, that's enough to make anyone jump!

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 12:33
Brisbanites

So Brett, how many on your shortlist are Brisbanites?

Posted by Margot Fletcher (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 15:07
.. er all of them. Unless
.. er all of them. Unless I'm very much mistaken, they were all either born in Brisbane or spent their formative years here . For example, the Bee Gees, who lived on Cribb Island during their childhood and had their big break in Brisbane, and Geoffrey Rush, who was born in Toowoomba but spent his teens and young adulthood in Brisbane, studying at the University of Queensland and performing with the Queensland Theatre Company, alongside Bioela-born, but Brisbane trained, Bille Brown.
Posted by debritz on September 29, 2009 - 16:08
Born and bred

I didn't think they were all Brisbane born and bred. Nevertheless, your shortlist is quite endearing Brett.

Posted by Margot Fletcher (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 16:30
Hope I die before I....

I don't know what you mean by "older" Queenslanders scratching their heads Brett. I'm 58 and a big fan of The Go-Betweens, who started out in 1977...that's 32 years ago! How time flies...
Actually, even if there wasn't a group by that name The Go-Between is the perfect name for a bridge, don't you think?

Posted by Hugh (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 12:47
I'm not saying they're
I'm not saying they're not worthy, I'm just wondering if they are more worthy than other candidates. As a standalone bridge name, I think Go-Between is up there with Vegemite iSnack 2.0.
Posted by debritz on September 29, 2009 - 16:11
Go-Between Bridge

Awful! Sounds so like the Liberal administration trying to be hip and cool and ending up laughable. Another fail from the egregious army engineer Cann-Doo-Doo.
For me, it will be "Hale Street Bridge" or "Campbell's Folly".

Posted by Perkin Warbeck (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 16:58
I kind of like it because

I kind of like it because the name alludes to Brisbane's artistic side, which is a pretty rare thing in Brisbane.
Especially considering it could easily have been any of these mouthfuls;
Milne Bay Memorial Bridge
Reverend John Dunmore Lang Bridge
Percy Hanlon Senior Bridge

Posted by Oliver (not verified) on September 29, 2009 - 22:52
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