NSW: NYE04 Sydney reflects

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2004
NSW: NYE04 Sydney reflects

By Amy Coopes

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - At 9pm (AEDT) tomorrow revellers at one of the world's largest
New Year's parties will be asked, for one minute, to fall silent.

Organisers of Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations say there's never been a more appropriate
time to come together in acknowledgement of our good fortune.

Sydney City Council has been criticised for going ahead with the NYE bash in the wake
of Sunday's tsunami disaster.

But rather than toning down the celebrations, NYE artistic director Leo Schofield said
he believed Sydneysiders needed to unite in celebration - beginning with a minute's silence
at 9pm.

"There's always the usual calls to cancel the fireworks and divert the money, but that's
simply not possible," he said.

"But I think the right notes will be struck. We are asking people to reflect on the
good fortune we have ... I think that's a particularly appropriate message at this time."

And the council is hoping that coming together, in the spirit of understanding and
generosity, will encourage people to give.

The City of Sydney has launched a New Year's appeal for tsunami relief, pledging $50,000
to Oxfam to kick-start donations.

Mr Schofield said if every person who watched the fireworks on TV gave $1, more than
$5 million could be raised.

Oxfam already has received $1.5 million as a result of the appeal.

"I'd like to see it, in addition to the $35 million already pledged by the Australian
government, top the $45 million donated by the US," he said.

With months of work, and almost $3 million - after corporate sponsorship - invested
in the aptly titled "Reflections" event, the show must go on, Mr Schofield said.

The centrepiece of the night will be Fanfare - a 20 metre model of a disco ball covered
with more than 350 silver pinwheels which will be suspended above the Harbour Bridge for
the midnight show.

Fireworks guru Tino Foti is promising Sydney's fireworks, which are considered the
world's largest New Year display, will be the best yet.

Putting the finishing touches on the fireworks barges in Sydney today, Mr Foti remained
coy about the value of tomorrow night's three tonne, 80,000-effect display.

"Say it's about 20 cents a head, multiply that by all the people who are watching and
you'll start to get an idea," he said.

Mr Foti said he thought people still wanted to see fireworks, despite the tsunami tragedy.

"But I think the minute's silence ... it's the right thing to do."

The city will be treated to an eight-and-a-half minute fireworks display at 9pm, and
15-minute midnight spectacular, culminating on the iconic Harbour Bridge.

There will be 1,500 police on the beat, while the NSW ambulance service has boosted
vehicle numbers at popular vantage points around the city.

St John's Ambulance also will set up a series of First Aid posts in these high volume areas.

Telstra will increase mobile network capacity around the city to cope with the more
than 22 million text messages and 23 million mobile calls it anticipates over the New
Year period.

CityRail and State Transit also will boost services, running 500 trains between 3pm
tomorrow and 3.30am New Year's Day, and 2,519 extra buses from 5pm tomorrow.

Ferries will run at reduced capacity, stopping between 8pm and 12.30am for fireworks.

The RSPCA reminded pet owners to ensure animals - which were often distressed by the
fireworks - were locked up somewhere they felt safe.



For transport and road closure information, visit www.131500.com.au or www.sydneynewyearseve.com.au

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