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The Tom 'Diver' Derrick VC Bridge was so named due to overwhelming local support for the World War II hero who won the Victoria Cross and liked to swim in the waters around the area of the proposed bridge. The government had originally chosen the name 'Power' Bridge after the local football team. After considerable objections and a large petition, the local community was successful in having the bridge renamed to Tom 'Diver' Derrick. (ABC News, 2008)
There are many Capital bridges but the Royal Australian Mint decided to focus on five historic bridges in particular.The
Tom Diver Derrick VC Bridge in Adelaide, the Pyrmont Bridge in Sydney, the Princes Bridge in Melbourne, the Story Bridge
in Brisbane and the Narrows Bridge in Perth. The artist chosen for the series was Ben Hutchings. The Adelaide version shows
the Diver Derrick VC Bridge in an open position along with the
The bridge cost $178 million to build and took three years to complete (Wikipedia, 2013) . The single-leaf opening bascule bridge measures 57.8 metres in length. It was opened on the 3rd August 2008 and the ceremony was attended by Derrick's sister, Rose Sterling. The bridge is just one of the many ways that this gallant man has been honoured. Derricks Victoria Cross is now on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The Port Adelaide community cherish their bridge with pride as a recent campaign to replace its flagpole was successful. The bridge is very important for the community as it is a vital link for trade and commerce. Motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians are accommodated on the Port River crossing.
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