Children walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge prior to opening

'Nearly 60,000 school children are being given the privilege of crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge before its opening' in March 1932.

Intertitle reads: 'Rain fails to damp ardor of school children as they stream across bridge on their special day'. 

The Melbourne Herald Newsreel team selected eight-year-old Kenneth Jones to climb to the top of the brand-new bridge. The fearless boy stands atop one of the arches and doesn't seem to be wearing a safety harness as he says to the camera, 'They look like ants down there!'

On 13 March 2017, Seven News Sydney ran a story featuring this footage. Journalist Chris Maher asked the public for information about Kenneth Jones. The Jones family contacted us to advise that Kenneth passed away in the 1980s, but he is survived by his wife Maureen, their five children, and several grandchildren. 

One of Kenneth's granddaughters, Tahlia Jones, sent us an email:

'It’s not every day that you’re watching the news and a family member pops up. It’s sad that he isn’t here to share his experience with you guys. As a granddaughter of Kenneth Jones, seeing this footage makes my heart melt. It’s a shame I never got to meet him, so seeing the film is amazing! My brother, who looks up to my pop so much, is excited about all of this, and I’m sure my other cousins and relatives are happy to know about this.'

We also spoke with Maureen Jones, who said: 'I was a bit shocked. I knew about the Harbour Bridge story, but it sort of took me by shock when I saw it on TV last night. It was a surprise.'

From a Melbourne Herald Newsreel. This item is part of the Roger McKenzie collection.

Notes by Beth Taylor and Miguel Gonzalez