Make Your Mark: New Year's Eve 2010 - Sydney Style!

The sun setting on Rushcutters Bay.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sydney was like nothing else.  We arrived to our location, Rushcutters Bay at about 7:00.  Families and friends were gathered on their blankets enjoying their picnic meals and the atmosphere reminded me of a day in the park.  Crowds continued to grow until midnight.  I was very impressed by the entire evening; the checkpoints before we entered the Bay ran smoothly and the crowds flowed out of the Bay smoothly at the end of the evening.

Most importantly, I was amazed at the fireworks show.  According to a Sydney New Year’s Event Guide I picked up, there were eight locations that fireworks were set off throughout Sydney Harbor.  From our vantage point, we could see three sets of fireworks.  The entire midnight show was choreographed to music broadcasted on a radio station.  We were able to enjoy both a family-geared show at 9:00 and the midnight spectacular.  The family show was choreographed to popular children’s movie soundtracks.  Watching the fireworks lit off the Sydney Harbour Bridge was especially spectacular. 

Leah, Deanna, Stephanie, and Jenn ringing in the New Year!  Happy 2011!

According to a Sydney Media article, nearly one thousand people and numerous months of planning are put into this entire event.  I believe that so much time, money and significance is put into this event because of the economic impact it has on Sydney’s economy.  Even though this event is free of charge, Sydney still reaps the benefits.  According to the article, international visitors stay an average of sixteen nights in Sydney over the holidays.  These visitors, both international and national, rent hotels and apartments, visit other tourist locations, enjoy Sydney restaurants, and much more.  All of the dollars spent at these businesses is injected into the economy.  

One of Tourism Australia’s objectives is to influence people to travel to Australia.  This New Year’s Eve Celebration fulfills this objective because it acts as a marketing strategy.  This marketing strategy is obviously successful because Sydney has become the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World.  

The beginning of "JESUS LIVES," written in the sky by an airplane. 

If I could ask an expert any questions about this event, I would ask how and where this economic stimulus is used in order to benefit Sydney’s citizens.  Why did Sydney decide to make a New Year’s Eve Celebration their ‘niche’ market?  In addition, who provided the funds for the Christian-themed words that were written in the sky by an airplane at dusk?  Our bus driver, Mary, explained to us that organized religion is not as prevalent as it is in Australia.  Because of this, it was a pleasant surprise to see “JESUS LIVES” painted across the sky by an airplane.