Current Mackay Pioneer River Traffic Bridges History by Steven Pritchard

Mackay’s current oldest Pioneer River Traffic Bridge is the Ron Camm Bridge which was opened in 1980

A Carnival was held on July 12 1980 to celebrate the new Ron Camm Bridge – which was organized by Combined Service Clubs of Mackay; entertaining the crowd were performances by the Mackay City Band and Mackay Pipe Band. Country Music, Baton Twirling, Square Dancing and the Victorian Varieties also kept attendees entertained. The Ron Camm Bridge was later officially opened July 16 1980 by then Premier of Queensland Johannes Bjelke Petersen. Back in those days the Ron Camm Bridge consisted of one bridge. The duplicate bridge was officially opened by then Member for Dawson De – Anne Kelly on December 18 1998. The Ron Camm Bridge is named after former Member for Whitsunday Ron Camm [1961 - 1980].
Ron Camm died in 1988. Johannes Bjelke Petersen died in 2005

The Edmund Casey Bridge – then known as the Hospital Bridge Redevelopment, was officially opened on April 26 2009. State Government parliamentarians: Member For Mackay Tim Mullherin, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarrett, Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace and Mayor of Mackay Colin Meng assisted children to officially open the bridge. A public celebration was also held on April 26 which included displays of: Vintage Cars, Hot Rods, Emergency Service Displays from: Queensland Fire And Rescue, Rural Fire Brigade, State Emergency Service, RACQ CQ Rescue and Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens entertained the attendees. Face Painting was also conducted at the celebration. A ‘Build A Bridge Competition’ was also conducted coinciding with the opening of the bridge. The Hospital Bridge Redevelopment was later renamed ‘The Edmund Casey Bridge during October 2009. The Edmund Casey Bridge replaced the former Pioneer Bridge (a.k.a The Hospital Bridge) which was officially opened on December 11 1937 by then Minister for Lands Percy Pease. A public celebration was also conducted on December 11 1937 which included The Mackay Scottish Pipe Band and a procession of cars which entertained the attendees. The Edmund Casey Bridge was named after former Member for Mackay Edmund Casey [1969 – 1995]. Percy Pease died in 1940. Edmund Casey died in 2006.

Stage 1 of the current Forgan bridge development opened to traffic on April 18 2010. A public celebration to celebrate the new bridge was held on April 11 2010 which included: Entertainment, Market Stalls and Fireworks entertained the attendees. The current Forgan bridge development replaced the former Forgan bridge which was officially by: then Mayor of Mackay George Moody’s wife Eleanor Moody along with the Member for Mackay and premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith (who unveiled the name plate) and his wife Effie Smith (who severed the ribbon), and then wife of Pioneer Shire Council Councilor and Mackay Bridges Board Chairman Frederick Knobel, Martha Knobel (who held the ribbon for Mrs. Moody to open) on March 30 1938. A public celebration was held the night of the official opening of the bridge. Entertaining the attendees were the Mackay City Band, Pipe Band and Caledonian Pipe Band. Singing of The National Anthem ‘God Save The Queen’ finished the Celebration. The Bridge was named after William Forgan Smith’s mother.

Martha Knobel died in 1939, George Moody died in 1950, Frederick Knobel died in 1951, William Forgan Smith died in 1953 and Elanor Moody Died in 1965