ORGANISERS of the Herd of Hope charity cattle drive say they’re being blocked by bureaucracy, while they continue to lobby for access to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Individual heifers can be sponsored, people can donate to walk behind the drive and many business are signed up for support. As well as promoting organ donation, the event will fund counselling services for organ donor families and transplant care nurses in the bush to guide organ recipients through the challenging recovery process.
Transport for NSW’s coordinator general for the CBD Marg Prendergast said she recognises the importance of Herd of Hope’s cause and her Department is “actively working with organisers to find a suitable alternative location or city route”.
Six alternative routes have been suggested to Herd of Hope’s organisers, each of which avoided the “significant disruptions” caused by closing the Bridge.
Ms Prendergast said the Bridge only closes for “two large hallmark events” each year (Blackmore’s Sydney Marathon and the New Year’s Eve fireworks) and since 1932 it had only been shut to traffic 47 times.
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Up to 30,000 vehicles use the harbour crossing in the 6 hours required to drive the Herd of Hope and cited concerns that the cattle would be unfamiliar with the structure of the Bridge, she said.
Herd of Hope’s founder, organ recipient Megan McLoughlin, said the need to improve recipient services and boost donation rates justified impacts the event may cause.
“We agree it's an inconvenience, but we believe though that those living in Sydney see that this event will change lives and it will save lives. There’ll be enough time for people to make alternate plans to use the Harbour Tunnel - heck we will even pay their toll if needed,” she said.
“If you give way to an ambulance you don't think ‘that’s inconvenient’, you think ‘I hope they make it in time.’ Let’s hope we can change things and get our health services to regional Australia in time.
Pledges of money, manpower and equipment are “overwhelming”, with one good Samaritan even offering to cover costs to the government of staging the event. Corporate partners include Akubra, Clipex, National Farmers Federation, Beyond Blue, Stockmen’s Hall of Fame, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Royal Agricultural Society, School of the Air, Isolated Children’s Association and NT Cattlemen’s Association.
Organisers are assessing the alternate routes, but ruled out five due to animal welfare and safety concerns, such as fencing the cattle or driving them along steep bitumen roads.
Ms McLoughlin is optimistic, but disappointed that the Department’s insistence that any route is contingent on local council approval, arguing this was “a tactic of making us start from the beginning”.
“We won't quit and we know how to start from scratch,” she said.
- Visit The Land site at Sydney Royal Show to sign a petition to support driving the Herd of Hope over the Harbour Bridge.
