By Esther Lauaki
The Tarneit Road bridge has been named after a well known Werribee icon.
The bridge over the rail line near Tarneit Station has officially been dubbed John Sweeting Bridge in honour of the Watton Street businessman who owned Sweetings the Jewellers for more than 50 years.
Mr Sweeting was an active member of local sporting clubs as well as supporting nearby schools and Werribee Hospital.
David Sweeting, John’s son, said he was proud to witness his father’s legacy.
“It’s a great honour to have the bridge named after my late father,” David said.
“He was very active community member … involved in many groups including vice chairman and chairman of the Werribee Racing Club, a life member of the Werribee Golf Club and Werribee Bowling Club.
“Being a local businessman for more than 50 years, he was a philanthropist as well. He used to donate jewellery to community fundraising events.
“He resided in Dohertys Road, and used to travel up and down Tarneit Road and watch the development of the railway line and the various estates that were happening around.
“He was savoring the day that he would be able to stand on that bridge from a vantage point where he could see it all complete.
“Unfortunately he didn’t make it to see that, but he would be very pleased to be honoured like this.”
John Sweeting Bridge was constructed as part of the Regional Rail Link Project.
Five other bridges built nearby through the project have a similar appearance and, to help give the bridge’s unique identities, VicTrack is naming the rest of the bridges through its Bridge Naming Competition.
Naming the bridges is designed to help emergency services pinpoint people’s locations, particularly in fire or flood prone areas.
They are all road bridges over the Geelong Line, and are at Doherty’s Road, Derrimut Road, Davis Road, Leakes Road and Ballan Road.
Names must commemorate a local community member or event, and follow the criteria set out by the Office of Geographic Names. Once nominations close, the names will be shortlisted and put to a public vote.
Information: victrack.com.au/bridge
