The Hampden Bridge restoration project song
1 Dec 11
Hampden Bridge was falling down
The Hall was full that night in town
We came to have our say.
The bridge was rotting out it seems
You should’ve seen the lower beams
T’was judgement day
With consultants, PowerPoints and screens
The RTA had planned, it seems
To shut us down, the death of town.
But what they hadn’t reckoned right
Was the fight we would put up that night
And the ensuing days, in every way.
What started badly came around
Another meeting with the town
“Listen and learn”, an about turn.
Two blocks of night-work was the shot
While we are tucked up in our cots
Hard to believe, harder to achieve.
A shuttle bus to get around
Franz’ll run you into town
A quite good fix, no government tricks
So hat’s off to Adam Berry
He could’ve done it differently
But he did not, mate, that’s the shot!
And here’s to Cheryl keeping us in line
“Mind your head just here, no wasting time”
She’s a task master, we need more like her
This is the Hampden Bridge Restoration
Project Song
For the team who work at night, they missed State of Origin.
Ross Murphy has four in his crew
From Dubbo, Bathurst, Lithgow too
A lonely life, far from your wife.
Bill McKenna’s known as Aloysius
His dinners are simply delicious
A MasterChef, no food is left, the plates are clean, an older team.
Sam, Eddie, Tas, Mark, Mick, Eli
Together they’re the younger guys
Night work’s extra pay, away from home’s OK.
It’s bridges that these guys repair
They’ve been just about everywhere
It’s what they do, for me and you.
This is the Hampden Bridge Restoration
Project Song
It’s repaired with care, that’s why it takes so long.
The girders are the first in line
Completed in the nick of time
A flood one night, the pontoon’s out of sight.
The stringers are six metres long
Trewhella Jacks, the night draws on
It’s cold as ice, hands don’t work right.
The decking goes down easily
Though drilling up from underneath
Is not much fun, the timber’s strong, the bolts are long.
The sheeting, that’s the bit we see
We drive over it every day
A lovely job, worth every bob.
Hampden Bridge will still be here
Standing in one hundred years
Thank you men, our bridge is new again
This is the Hampden Bridge Restoration
Project Song
Our little bridge, may it long live on.