Brad Turner works for the Sydney Harbour Bridge Alliance, and knows just how proud we are of ‘our’ Bridge. “I’ve been in this job for two and a half years and the role involves almost everything to do with the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The event most people are familiar with is New Year’s Eve. Most Sydneysiders are proud of the fact that it’s the best NYE event in Australia, so every year we’ve got that really high benchmark. The planning that goes into that NYE countdown is a challenge.

We are going for a clean look for the 75th anniversary celebrations on March 18. Often we celebrate with pyrotechnics, but this time, given it’s the birthday for the Bridge, we want it to be in its glory – just have it looking like the iconic asset that it is.

‘I have four-year-old twin daughters and if ... they see the Bridge on the news, they say, “That’s Daddy’s Harbour Bridge.”’

The question I’m most often asked is, “Do you have a killer view?” I don’t at all! I’m in an office on the south pylon, so I have a view of about a hundred guys who work really hard to make the Bridge look as good as it does.

I’ve never had a job that prompts so many questions. When we had the disco ball on the side of the bridge for the NYE celebrations in 2005, we had someone ring up quite distraught because they could see from their window that the ball was pulling the Bridge off its centre of balance. You take it with a grain of salt because people are so proud of the Bridge and ... they’re coming from a headspace that they love it and are passionate about it.

We also had someone ring up when the Olympics were announced and ask, “Why don’t you paint it gold for those 12 months?” You can’t just paint it in 12 months; it’s an ongoing project. It was another of those wonderful quirky questions that the Bridge seems to attract.

I’ve come to learn that the kids of the toll operators and tow truck drivers all say, “That’s my mummy’s or daddy’s Bridge.” Luckily, it’s big enough to be everybody’s Bridge. I don’t think anybody comes to Sydney and doesn’t take a photo of it.”

To find out about the Bridge’s 75th anniversary celebrations, and to register to walk on the Bridge on the day, visit Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk.