The flags will be offered to those involved in The Walk of the People, due to start once VIP guests have completed their part in recognising the bridge’s completion through a traditional Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.
Echuca Moama Kiwanis Club will be handing out the flags and those who take a flag will have the option of dropping some coins into buckets in aide of the ERH project.
Kiwanis vice-president Terry James said the club was excited to be involved, although would be down five members on the day.
“We will probably have four at each end of the bridge handing out the flags on the day,” he said.
“A few are unavailable and we will have two on our boat, which will be part of Lou’s on-water celebration.”
The Kiwanis club will be offering seats on its barge to community members, including students from Echuca Twin Rivers Specialist School, Vivid and CLRS clients.
Mr Iannacone, who was probably the first to contact Major Roads Victoria organisers of the event about increasing the Echuca Moama involvement on the day, is driving to Melbourne on Thursday to collect the flags.
“I was very lucky to be able to source the flags. I think they will be a fantastic addition to the day,” he said.
“I can picture all the kids with their flags, waving at the boats on the water and the aeroplanes flying overhead.”
As well as enlisting the support of the Echuca Moama Kiwanis group to hand out the flags, Mr Iannacone also plans to deliver flags to schools prior to the Sunday, April 10 event.
“My plan is to hand them out to the clubs and schools, and the shires if they want them, to give away to people involved in the walk.”
Mr Iannacone will be at the wheel of his boat — The Amphibious — during the 2pm to 4pm community celebration.
The Echuca businessman has successfully co-ordinated the Echuca Aero Club and several other historic boat owners to be a part of his “on the water and in the air” celebration, which be believes will complement what Major Roads Victoria organisers have planned.
He is still uncertain just how many historic boats will be part of the flotilla he is hoping will form a spectacular sail past underneath the bridge while dignitaries are involved in official ceremonies.
“On my boat will be the band and I also have Reverend Harry Monroe on board. I am hoping to get permission for him to conduct a blessing of the bridge.
“I’d also love to have everyone singing the national anthem at some stage. We could have it playing from The Amphibious.”
Rev Monroe, a boat captain in his own right, has his 60-foot vessel tethered at Echuca and has blessed several boats on their maiden voyages.
It seems fitting that the same honour be bestowed on the $323 million bridge.
Mr Iannacone’s uncertainty also extends to exactly how many people will turn out on the bridge for the walk, which is due to commence at 2pm from both ends of the bridge — led by Mayor Chrissy Weller at the Campaspe end and by Murray River Council’s Chris Bilkey on the opposite bank of the river.
His often overly enthusiastic nature had him settling on the figure of 5000 people very early in the piece and, with the forecast of a 28-degree day with no rain, the potential for a significant crowd at the event is growing every day.
