Foreshores' Fireworks Top The Highlights

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 1, 2009

By ALISON BRANLEY and MARTIN DINNEEN

REVELLERS endured an extra moment of anticipation, but then the sparks flew as the Hunter welcomed in the new year last night.

Crowds had to count down one extra second before it was time to sing Auld Lang Syne after the world's official timekeeper decided to prolong the year by an extra second.

More than 20,000 people lined Newcastle Harbour to watch fireworks at 9pm and midnight while others rang in the new year at pubs, clubs and private functions.

Younger crowds also overflowed from The Brewery where Pnau, The Bumblebeez and Snob Scrilla played.

The fireworks display included a flurry of colours in the shape of hearts, stars, flowers and planets with a grand finale that filled the sky with light and two pyrotechnic domes either side of Newcastle Harbour.

At Lake Macquarie almost 250 boats surrounded the fireworks barge on the water while excited revellers lined the foreshore from Speers Point to Eleebana for the 10pm fireworks.

Debbie Barron travelled from Wyee to launch their boat and enjoy the Warners Bay fireworks from the water.

"This is our first New Year's Eve on a boat so we are all really excited," she said.

"It's fantastic, we have the family on the boat and we can see everyone lining the shore, just fantastic."

Further north at Port Stephens numbers swelled beyond expectation as the warm weather drew revellers to the Nelson Bay foreshore and D'Albora Marina.

More than 7000 people enjoyed festivities on the marina with more than 15,000 lining the foreshore while boats entered the heads and anchored for those on board to enjoy the fireworks.

Graeme Charles from Shoal Bay joined friends who had travelled from Adelaide, Darwin and Sydney, on Nelson Bay foreshore, proud to show how beautiful the area was.

"It's been a great day and it's great to have your friends enjoy the bay at its finest," he said.

His friend Josie Axo, of Adelaide, compared the vista of the bay to that of Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve.

"It's equally as beautiful because of the fresh, lovely scenery," she said.

At Newcastle Foreshore, families started setting up camp inside the fenced off alcohol-free zone from late afternoon to secure their spot for the pyrotechnics.

They made the most of the carnival atmosphere that included rides and concerts.

They were followed by waves of young revellers who moved in after the 9pm fireworks.

Public transport was the popular mode of travel for most, with buses and trains regularly delivering revellers to help swell the crowds.

Alison and Daniel Maddocks, of Floraville, brought their son Lachlan, 2, to the foreshore to see fireworks for the first time.

"We have never been here before and it's just beautiful," Alison Maddocks said.

"It's such a family friendly atmosphere."

The Knight family, of Wallsend, including mum and dad Kylie and Robbie and Nicolas, 4 and Jacob, 9, have been setting up a picnic at the same spot in the foreshore park on New Year's Eve for the past nine years.

"We started when Jacob was born," Kylie Knight said.

Paul Thompson, of Belmont, said he would use the extra second in 2008 to get in early for his New Year's kiss with his girlfriend Jillian Bowe.

At Stockton, a capacity crowd of about 10,000 people celebrated.

THE YEAR

THE BUBBLE

BURST

Editorial, Page 8

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* HANGOVER CURES, PAGE 9

* NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS, THE WORD, PAGE 12

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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