Post by Ace on Oct 6, 2004 10:45:17 GMT -5
Telegraph: Ambition that spans an eternity
October 7, 2004
One man is convinced the Sydney Harbour Bridge has plenty of life left yet. MARTIN WALLACE reports:
IT'S one of the most imposing manmade structures in Australia and for 40 years it has been the office of Don Willey.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is 72 years old and according to its proud maintenance officer and former painter it will last forever.
The coathanger's hoped-for immortality is a testament to the skills of the men who built her and the team of painters who protect it from rust.
"The Harbour Bridge is a living structure and if we keep looking after it, it will go on for ever," Mr Willey, 62 said.
"I know every nut and bolt on that Bridge after spending my life working on it and I'm proud as punch that it's in such fantastic condition.
"The public has the impression that it takes about 12 months to paint. But if you start at one end and go all the way to the other end it would take at least 15 years to complete.
"During that time you're also having to go back and patch certain areas every two years because of the way the wind, rain and salt attacks the paintwork.
"It really is a job that's never ending but I'm privileged to be doing it."
Not only does Mr Willey, a father of two, enjoy the best views in town, but he has also rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous desperate to conquer it.
In the pre-BridgeClimb days he escorted 007 star Pierce Brosnan, I Robot actor Will Smith, funnyman Billy Connolly, rock divas Tina Turner and k.d. lang, golfer Greg Norman, actress Brooke Shields and former Monty Python star Michael Palin to the summit.
He boasts an amazing photo album taken at a knee-trembling 134m above sea level.
"In those days the stars would ring up the RTA asking to climb our bridge and one of the perks of the job was being able to escort them," Mr Willey said.
"I remember taking Pierce Brosnan up there because it was a warm day and he stripped off his jacket.
"I told him my daughter would have loved to have seen that so he stripped off right down to the waist and let me take a photo for her.
"I was amazed at how relaxed Tina Turner was as she did a song and dance routine at the top.
"Will Smith was a really nice bloke too and it was very funny when I took him up because his 6ft 6in tall bodyguard, who was about 6ft 6in wide, was petrified.
"He started sweating and told us he'd have to go back down.
One of Mr Willey's workmates in the early days was funnyman Paul Hogan, but Mr Willey said he was not known for his sense of humour then.
The Harbour Bridge was officially opened on March 19, 1932 and to this day remains the world's largest steel arch bridge.
Maintenance falls to the RTA, which has a team of 20 full- time painters who use paint featuring chlorinated rubber to extend its lifespan.
Mr Willey has seen it all since he completed his apprenticeship as a 22-year-old and started as a Bridge painter.
"I'm one of the last of the old squad and I regard all the blokes who started working here 20 years ago as new fellows," he said.
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Lucky lucky daughter...
Ace
October 7, 2004
One man is convinced the Sydney Harbour Bridge has plenty of life left yet. MARTIN WALLACE reports:
IT'S one of the most imposing manmade structures in Australia and for 40 years it has been the office of Don Willey.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is 72 years old and according to its proud maintenance officer and former painter it will last forever.
The coathanger's hoped-for immortality is a testament to the skills of the men who built her and the team of painters who protect it from rust.
"The Harbour Bridge is a living structure and if we keep looking after it, it will go on for ever," Mr Willey, 62 said.
"I know every nut and bolt on that Bridge after spending my life working on it and I'm proud as punch that it's in such fantastic condition.
"The public has the impression that it takes about 12 months to paint. But if you start at one end and go all the way to the other end it would take at least 15 years to complete.
"During that time you're also having to go back and patch certain areas every two years because of the way the wind, rain and salt attacks the paintwork.
"It really is a job that's never ending but I'm privileged to be doing it."
Not only does Mr Willey, a father of two, enjoy the best views in town, but he has also rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous desperate to conquer it.
In the pre-BridgeClimb days he escorted 007 star Pierce Brosnan, I Robot actor Will Smith, funnyman Billy Connolly, rock divas Tina Turner and k.d. lang, golfer Greg Norman, actress Brooke Shields and former Monty Python star Michael Palin to the summit.
He boasts an amazing photo album taken at a knee-trembling 134m above sea level.
"In those days the stars would ring up the RTA asking to climb our bridge and one of the perks of the job was being able to escort them," Mr Willey said.
"I remember taking Pierce Brosnan up there because it was a warm day and he stripped off his jacket.
"I told him my daughter would have loved to have seen that so he stripped off right down to the waist and let me take a photo for her.
"I was amazed at how relaxed Tina Turner was as she did a song and dance routine at the top.
"Will Smith was a really nice bloke too and it was very funny when I took him up because his 6ft 6in tall bodyguard, who was about 6ft 6in wide, was petrified.
"He started sweating and told us he'd have to go back down.
One of Mr Willey's workmates in the early days was funnyman Paul Hogan, but Mr Willey said he was not known for his sense of humour then.
The Harbour Bridge was officially opened on March 19, 1932 and to this day remains the world's largest steel arch bridge.
Maintenance falls to the RTA, which has a team of 20 full- time painters who use paint featuring chlorinated rubber to extend its lifespan.
Mr Willey has seen it all since he completed his apprenticeship as a 22-year-old and started as a Bridge painter.
"I'm one of the last of the old squad and I regard all the blokes who started working here 20 years ago as new fellows," he said.
==============================
Lucky lucky daughter...
Ace
