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The annual NYE secret – the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect – featured red lips that read out a countdown to 2013 before puckering up for a kiss at midnight.

A jubilant Kylie said 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve had been one of the best nights of her life.

“Sydney has the reputation as the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World and it certainly lived up to that promise last night.

“The atmosphere was electric and it was a night I will never forget.

“It was the best feeling ever to be on the world’s greatest harbour surrounded by family, friends and the 1.6 million people gathered around the foreshore.

“My New Year resolution is to spend more time with my family and loved ones – and more time in Australia.

“I want to carry the theme Embrace into 2013. It’s such a beautiful notion to embrace loved ones, ideas, possibilities, the past and what the future holds.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said an estimated 1.6 million people gathered on the harbour foreshore to welcome the New Year.

“Our event last night perfectly showcased the magic and beauty of Sydney to the rest of the world,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is Australia’s single biggest annual event, generating $156 million for our economy in just one night.”

Last night’s Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect was the most complex and sophisticated ever created. It used 365 individual circuits and approximately 16-kilometres of rope lights to create the vibrant Embrace icon and Kylie’s lips.

As Creative Ambassador for NYE12, pop princess Kylie Minogue developed the Embrace theme and colour scheme, which played a large part in the success of last night’s event.

Four Embrace-theme coloured light shows took place on Sydney Harbour Bridge – in magenta, yellow, purple and blue – as thousands of people’s mobile phone screens lit up in synchronised colours.

The Telstra Colour Moments were part of the free NYE12 smartphone app, developed with Telstra, to ensure everyone around the harbour could play an even bigger role in the event.

Foti Fireworks created a one-of-a-kind firework to celebrate Kylie’s K25 year, denoting the much-loved pop princess’ unforgettable journey from her ’80s Locomotion debut to today’s sophisticated stage shows.

The Lord Mayor praised the City workers who, rather than spend time with their loved ones, worked through the night to ensure Sydney was pristine this morning.

“The clean-up of New Year’s Eve involved a team of 348 staff who were deployed across the night, collecting 66 tonnes of waste,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It’s a mammoth task. Within a matter of hours, our staff transformed the City’s streets and parks – clearing a sea of rubbish to reveal a pristine setting in time for dawn on New Year’s Day.”

The $290,000 clean-up operation involved the use of 60 trucks, sweepers and compactors, 625 mobile garbage bins to support the City’s 600 street litter bins, which were filled with plastic bottles, food containers and food scraps.

All waste collected will be transported to the Chullora Resource Recovery Park for processing, with 90 per cent of it recycled, courtesy of SITA Australia.

The Lord Mayor today thanked the City’s New Year’s Eve team and Creative Ambassador Kylie Minogue.

“The City’s team spent 15 months working hard to organise this world-class display, which was viewed by an estimated 2.6 million people at home and seen by over one billion people around the world,” the Lord Mayor said.

“I’d also like to congratulate all our volunteers who gave up their time to help Sydneysiders and tourists find their way around the city.

“And my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made generous donations to The Fred Hollows Foundation.”

Sydney New Year’s Eve Producer Aneurin Coffey said the organisation of the event was a dream run, with more than 1,000 staff and contractors working last night to ensure everything went smoothly.

“It was great to see everyone pitch in and work hard to achieve such a successful night and make our big dream a reality for the 1.6 million people around the harbour,’’ Mr Coffey said.

“Now that NYE12 is over, we can start concentrating on NYE13.”

Other bridge effects include:

1999: Eternity;

2000: Federation star;

2001: Uluru;

2002: Peace symbol and dove;

2003: Light show;

2004: Fanfare, the glittering ball;

2005: Heart;

2006: Diamond to mark the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s 75th anniversary;

2007: Hourglass;

2008: A shining sun (The Creation Storm);

2009: Yin-yang symbol (Awaken the Spirit);

2010: A red X (Make Your Mark); and

2011: Endless Rainbow (Time to Dream), designed by Marc Newson.

Last night’s Telstra Colour Moments:

10.15pm: The magenta colour moment represented the Embrace Love subtheme and was accompanied by a firework shaped like a heart.

11pm: It was followed by the yellow colour moment, Embrace Sydney, which saw a firework shaped like a sun shimmer over the city.

11.30pm: The Embrace the Possibility colour moment was accompanied by a butterfly taking flight from Sydney Harbour Bridge and morphing into a purple firework.

11.45pm: The final Embrace the Moment effect was a huge aquamarine starburst firework, which lit up the night, building anticipation for the 12-minute Midnight Fireworks display.

Twitter: #NYESYD

For more information visit sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Rohan Sullivan, phone 0414 617 086 or email rsullivan@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on 0427 044 768 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 KDB LTD.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Download - Kylie Minogue from the City of Sydney NYE12 Midnight Fireworks (4.59 MB)

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Steve Jablonksy / Shredders

Flux Pavilion / Daydreamer

Kylie Minogue / Can’t Get You Outta My Head (feat. Kylie a capella)

DJ Fresh featuring Sian Evans / Louder

Jean Michel Jarre / Oxygene Part II

Grouplove / Tongue Tied

Skrillex feat. Sirah / Bangarang

M83 / Midnight City

Led Zeppelin / Whole Lotta Love

Coldplay / Paradise

Florence + The Machine / All This and Heaven Too

Sigur Rós / Hoppipolla

Hans Zimmer / Rise

Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo / Let’s Go

Scissor Sisters / Only The Horses

Bankai v s:amplify / Embrace (featuring Kylie a capella)

Kylie Minogue / Time Bomb

Martin Solveig / The Night Out (Madeon Remix)

Kaskade / Eyes

s:amplify / 2013 is Nigh

Kylie / On a Night Like This (WIP)

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 KDB LTD.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Download - Kylie Minogue during the 9PM Family Fireworks (2.19 MB)

Download - Extra - Kylie Minogue during the 9PM Family Fireworks (15.18 MB)

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Ricki Lee / Do it Like That

Cobra Starship featuring Sabi / You Make me Feel

Maddi Jane / Barricade

John Powell / The Last Seed

James Brown / I Feel Good

Fun / We Are Young

Carly Rae Jepsen / Call Me Maybe

Keke Palmer / We Are

Kylie Minogue / All the Lovers

Wolfgang Gartner / Wolfgang’s 5^th Symphony

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 KDB LTD.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Download - Kylie and Cameron Williams (1.27 MB)

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The students from Glebe Public School, Plunkett Street Public School in Woolloomooloo, and the Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy’s Aurukun Campus, were chosen by their communities based on their attendance and good marks at school this year.

Imani Tamwoy, 11, will travel more than 3,000 kilometres to Sydney from the Top End, to join Nakita Edwards, 12, Kamika White, 10, and nine-year-olds Zoe Dumas and Macenzee Blakeney to welcome in 2013 from a prime vantage point on the harbour foreshore.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s inaugural Attendance at School Incentive Program offered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who performed well at school a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the world-famous Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations from the best seats in the house.

“This program gives the students a chance to see Australia’s biggest event from one of the best vantage points on Sydney Harbour,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The children are encouraged to do their best at school all year, not only for the chance to experience New Year’s Eve, but for the satisfaction and personal growth academic excellence brings.”

The program was inspired by the story of nine-year-old Delwyn ‘DJ’ Gothachalkenin from Aurukun who made a deal with his friend and mentor – sport and recreation officer Genevieve Delves – he would attend school every day for a year if she took him to Sydney New Year’s Eve.

True to his word, determined Delwyn didn’t miss a day of class, and last year his dream came true when he travelled to Sydney to see fireworks for the first time in his life.

Ms Delves said DJ had an amazing time and had vowed to continue going to school.

“He really did have the experience of a lifetime and I know it’s something that will stay in his mind for a very, very long time,” Ms Delves said.

“I wish I could accurately describe the difference an experience such as this makes in the life of a kid like DJ.”

The Lord Mayor met Delwyn and was so impressed by his commitment, she asked the City to set up a permanent program to offer the same incentives to other children in Aurukun and Sydney.

Patrick Mallett, principal of Aurukun Aboriginal Academy said the Attendance at School Incentive Program has been a wonderful incentive for kids in the community.

“Here at Aurukun, our students face different challenges to children from the big smoke,” Mr Mallett said.

“Imani has done so well at school this year, and it’s so exciting she’ll be in Sydney for New Year’s Eve.

“Delwyn has also continued to thrive academically since his spell in the limelight last year. Thanks to the City’s New Year’s Eve initiative and other supportive programs all of our students’ performances have been outstanding.”

As well as enjoying their glittering NYE reward, the students yesterday enjoyed a lunch cruise to appreciate Sydney’s beautiful harbour in daylight.

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’.

Twitter: #NYESYD  sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on
0427 044 768 or email mlevison@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect will be shrouded in secrecy until midnight, when the bridge and city light up with Foti Fireworks’ spectacular pyrotechnics displays and the celebrations begin.

Kylie said being home to host Sydney New Year’s Eve was a dream come true, and that she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate 25 years of performing at home.

“I’m getting more and more excited by the minute, it’s fantastic!,” Kylie said.

“It’s been a huge year for me and the finish line is tonight, New Year’s Eve!

“I’m definitely trying to find a moment in the madness to appreciate everything we’ve done this year and what an amazing year it has been to share with friends and to acknowledge 25 years in the music industry.

“It hasn’t been that easy, it’s had its ups and downs but that’s the joy of my life; it has been an amazing ride.”

Kylie and Lord Mayor Clover Moore encouraged everyone to download the free Sydney NYE smartphone app and take part in a world-first NYE interactive colour light show.

“Watching the fireworks burst across Sydney’s sky on New Year’s Eve is an incredible spectacle,” the Lord Mayor said.

“For the first time, we’re giving spectators a chance to be part of the show by downloading our free Sydney NYE smartphone app.

“We hope it might even set a new Australian record for audience participation.”

Another feature for people watching around the bridge and at home is the 10 jet-skiers from H2O Events who will take part in the countdown to midnight, by cruising across the harbour with fireworks launching from safety packs on their backs.

Kylie will push the button to launch the countdown to midnight and a remix of On a Night Like This will feature on the soundtrack of the Midnight Fireworks, which includes a musical note firework design to mark the end of her K25 year.

The phone app, which was developed by the City and Telstra, will light up phone screens in time with four colour light shows on the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the end of 2012 and launch of 2013.

The synchronised Telstra Colour Moments – at 10.15pm, 11pm, 11.30pm and 11.45pm – will build excitement as the clock ticks closer to midnight, and app users will be reminded to hold their phones to the sky to be part of the celebration, as the harbour is transformed into a sea of colour.

As well as the world-first interactive light show, the app will also allow people to send messages to loved ones, view vantage point maps and ‘message the bridge’ with their hopes for the New Year.

Kylie said she was glad to be back in Sydney to embrace 2013 in the New Year’s Capital of the World.

“It’s amazing to be back, actually incredible; it’s so beautiful,” Kylie said.

“Two days ago I was in cold London, but honestly I have been so excited about coming home, since the beginning of this project, which was a year ago; so here I am and it’s now reality – it’s so exciting.

“They really didn’t have to convince me (to get involved) . . . between the City of Sydney and Imagination, who are doing all the creative, they held my hand throughout and made it a lot of fun.

“It’s such an honour to be involved in, what I have now learnt, is the biggest New Year’s Eve attraction in the world, with 1.6 million people coming harbour-side to watch.

“It feels perfect for me to be the Creative Ambassador this year, I love the theme, Embrace.

“It means so many different things; not only about embracing your loved ones but also about embracing new ideas or new concepts, embracing the past, embracing the future; it’s beautiful . . . a big old hug.”

Adding to the excitement, a new firework, designed by Kylie and fireworks maestro Fortunato Foti in the shape of a musical note, will light up the sky tonight along with the expertly choreographed 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks displays.

The Lord Mayor said the musical note marks the end of Kylie’s K25 year, which celebrates her quarter-century career in the entertainment business.

“With Kylie’s creative input, new fireworks designs and more audience participation than ever before, this will be a New Year’s Eve to remember,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are world famous and reach over a billion people – not just because we have the first major display for 2013, but because it’s the best.”

Joining the semiquaver firework in the Sydney sky will be several other never-before-seen fireworks designs created exclusively for the event by Foti, including hands, feet, bees, birds, koalas and octopus.

The fireworks display will be set to a special soundtrack hand-picked by Kylie and friends. People watching the Midnight Fireworks are encouraged to tune their radios to 2DayFM to listen to the synchronised music to complete the experience.

The spectacular NYE12 Midnight Fireworks will also be seen by millions more people around the world on the City’s first-ever NYE live stream on the revamped event website, sydneynewyearseve.com

The live stream will allow the event to be totally accessible for people all over the world, and will be accompanied by an original piece of music by NYE12 Musical Directors Davide Carbone and Josh Abrahams.

The event’s accessibility will also be better than ever this year with new ‘steps free’ accessibility maps, which provide advice about suggested routes without stairs to the city’s best vantage points, so people can easily plan their journey and find the most appropriate location to suit their needs.

Returning after its success last New Year’s Eve is the audio description – available on 2RPH –which includes descriptions of the fireworks displays, as well as interviews with the event’s organisers, so listeners can get a behind-the-scenes insight into the planning of this world-leading event.

Continuing the City’s green tradition, tonight’s celebrations will be carbon neutral by using biodegradable firecracker cases, recycled water and ‘GreenPower’ Accredited Renewable Energy during Australia’s biggest event.

This is the fourth year the City of Sydney has produced a clean, green and carbon-neutral NYE and the 13th year the Fireworks Displays have been created by Foti Fireworks, a carbon-neutral company.

The City encourages all people heading out tonight to plan for a safe and enjoyable beginning to 2013.

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’. Twitter: #NYESYD  sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or emailjminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on 0427 044 768 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The post Embrace the possibility at NYE12 tonight appeared first on Sydney New Years Eve 2012.

Aerobatic extraordinaire, Matt Hall, the first Australian to compete in the Red Bull Air Race World Championships – the fastest sport on the planet – will make flights at 6pm and 8pm to help build anticipation for the midnight countdown.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was the former fighter pilot’s third time flying above the crowds for Sydney NYE.

“Matt first performed his aerobatic tricks above the harbour for 2010 Sydney New Year’s Eve and we have kept inviting him back because the crowds absolutely love the excitement and daring of his performances,” the Lord Mayor said.

Mr Hall gained his first pilot’s licence at 15 and has since had a remarkable career, including 18 years in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The 41-year-old said flying above Sydney on New Year’s Eve – and being one of only a lucky few aircraft allowed to do so – was an honour.

“I’m a fairly patriotic person, so to be involved in Sydney NYE is special because it’s such a big event, and it makes world headlines,” Mr Hall said.

“I’m also one of a handful of people who get to see Sydney from the air on this particular evening, and watch the excitement of the crowds below.”

Mr Hall said the NYE flights were up there with the highlights of his flying career: a sunset flight with his wife, and the time he dodged a missile in Iraq.

“During my air force career I was deployed to the Middle East,” Mr Hall said.

“I wouldn’t say it was frightening, it’s just something you’re trained to do and you just get on with the job.”

Mr Hall’s first NYE12 flight at 6pm, in a slick MXS-R race plane, will see him joined by Lieutenant Dan O’Donnell in a two-seat Extra 300L, for some ‘formation work’, where they leave patterned trails in the sky.

Mr Hall will return alone at 8pm in his high-speed racing aircraft to perform daring loops, tumbles, vertical rolls and to show off his high-performance hover skills.

“I’ll be six metres above the water and doing about 400km/h, and turning the plane with a G-force of 10,” Mr Hall said.

“To give you an idea about 10G, an F1 race car turns at 4G and an F18 fighter turns at about 7.5G, so it’s pretty fast. The crowd is in for a real treat.”

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’.

Twitter: #NYESYD  sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with the Lord Mayor, contact Matt Levinson on 0427 044 768 or mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The post Aussie Top Gun has NYE off to a flying start appeared first on Sydney New Years Eve 2012.

The City has produced ‘steps free’ accessibility maps, which provide advice on suggested routes without stairs to three recommended Sydney New Year’s Eve vantage points, so people can easily plan their journey and the most appropriate location to suit their needs.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the maps reflect the City’s commitment to making Sydney New Year’s Eve as embracing for everyone, including people living with a disability.

“Our fireworks celebration is one of the world’s best New Year’s Eve parties,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It’s for everyone and we want to make sure that people living with a disability are able to come along and join in the celebrations.

“Sydney New Year’s Eve is the largest free community event in Australia and our gift to the people of Sydney and the world.

“It’s for everyone and we want to make sure that people living with a disability are able to come along and join in the celebrations. In keeping with our Creative Ambassador Kylie Minogue, we want to embrace as many people as possible.”

The new maps, are available to download from sydneynewyearseve.com, will take the stress out of getting to the event, so visitors can focus on enjoying their night watching the 9PM Family Fireworks and the Midnight Fireworks displays.

The maps will provide direct and easily accessible paths to three of the City’s most accessible vantage points around Sydney Harbour: Bicentennial Park in Glebe, Pirrama Park in Pyrmont and Embarkation Park in Potts Point.

Another exciting accessibility feature of NYE12 will be the return of the audio description accompanying the Midnight Fireworks Display, after a positive reception by the last year.

The audio description will be available on radio station 2RPH and will include descriptions of the fireworks displays, as well as interviews with the event’s organisers so listeners can get a behind-the-scenes insight into the planning of this world leading event.

Bruce Maguire – a representative from Vision Australia and a Glebe resident – said the audio description enhanced his Sydney New Year’s Eve experience last year as he discovered things about fireworks he never knew before.

“The audio description is a great way to include blind and vision-impaired people in the event,” Mr Maguire said.

“The City of Sydney has done a lot with their resources to make New Year’s Eve more accessible for everyone. A lot of the celebration is very visual – we live in a visual world – so the audio commentary is great because it brings you back into the world that everyone else is living in.”

The City of Sydney’s committed Accessibility Coordinator also manages the dedicated accessibility page on the Sydney New Year’s Eve website, sydneynewyearseve.com

The website also includes information about accessible transport options and an interactive vantage point map that shows which sites are accessible and provide accessible facilities.

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’.

Twitter: #NYESYD sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on
0427 044 768 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The post Sydney New Year’s Eve embraces accessibility appeared first on Sydney New Years Eve 2012.

Foti Fireworks has created a one-of-a-kind firework to celebrate Kylie’s K25 year, denoting the much-loved pop icon’s unforgettable journey from her ’80s Locomotion debut to today’s sophisticated stage shows.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Kylie’s Embrace theme and exclusive new firework will make this year’s event bigger and better than ever.

“Kylie’s an Australian icon, and we’re delighted to have her involved in Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations this year,” the Lord Mayor said.

“There’s no better place than Sydney to celebrate – the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World.

Kylie has worked with the City to develop her Embrace theme, which will inspire the fireworks displays – in colours of red, yellow, purple and magenta – and promote positive ideas about inclusion and connection.

Foti Fireworks – under the direction of pyrotechnics expert Fortunato Foti – created the semiquaver from scratch, and has designed an innovative and exciting fireworks display using Kylie’s theme as inspiration.

Fortunato, or ‘Forch’ as he’s affectionately known, said creating the fireworks display this year had been exciting and challenging.

“I was asked to create a musical note in fireworks, which is something we hadn’t done before,” Mr Foti said.

“A lot of research and development was done by my father, Sam Foti, and brother, Robert Foti, to produce this effect.”

The fireworks displays are made up of about seven tonnes of pyrotechnics, and were today loaded onto barges at White Bay, in Sydney’s inner west.

This includes 11,000 aerial shells and 25,000 shooting comets – which will explode off seven barges spread across six kilometres of the harbour.

The 12-minute Midnight Fireworks display will be the dazzling centrepiece of the night, and require a pyrotechnical crew of 45 people controlling 12 computers to launch the fireworks from 130 firing points on the Sydney Harbour bridge, the barges and city buildings.

Forch has also designed fireworks in the shapes of hands, feet, koalas, bees, birds and octopus for this year’s event.

“People go away saying ‘I haven’t seen that before!’, and it sticks in their memory – it’s all about embracing the moment,” Mr Foti said.

“New Year’s Eve will be the culmination of eight months’ work for us, but the reward is seeing the smiles of the faces of people, both young and old.”

The Midnight Fireworks Display will be accompanied by a specially designed musical score – put together by Kylie and friends – to complete the experience for the 1.6 million viewers around the Sydney Harbour Foreshore, 2.3 million at home and over 1 billion from around the globe.

Fortunato Foti said the music is a critical part of the choreography of the fireworks displays.

“We design the show to flow with the mood of the music – in a nutshell, we try to make the fireworks dance to the songs,” Mr Foti said.

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’. Twitter: #NYESYD  sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on
0427044768 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The post Kylie ends 25 years on a glittering musical note appeared first on Sydney New Years Eve 2012.

This will be the 13th year the Foti family has created the City of Sydney’s 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks Displays, and Elena has usually watched with excitement from the sidelines.

“When you tell your friends that your dad’s the fireworks guy from Sydney New Year’s Eve, they’re like ‘wow that’s so crazy, your dad’s got the best job ever’,” Elena said.

“It’s pretty exciting and now that I’m 18, I’m getting into it. I’m actually working with Dad and the rest of the family members.

“At the moment I’m at the factories in Leppington, in Sydney’s south-west, doing a lot of administration work and when they start setting up on the barges at White Bay I’ll be going down and helping them.”

Elena will join her father, NYE Fireworks Director Fortunato, 47, grandfather Sam, 74, and uncles Tino, 48, and Vince, 64, as well as other relatives, Giovanni, Anthony and Angelo, in putting together the fireworks, which are seen by about one billion people around the world.

The Foti family has been in the pyrotechnics business in Australia since arriving from Italy in the 1950s but surprisingly Elena was always frightened of fireworks as a child.

“Believe it or not I used to be scared of fireworks when I was little – the noise used to frighten me,” Elena said.

“We used to have quite a few cracker nights when I was younger and I distinctly remember one time at my grandmother’s house where my Dad put this suit on, called Dominic the donkey, and firecrackers came off it.

“I was fascinated, but I was scared for him, too.”

Elena graduated this year from high school, but is yet to decide whether she’ll follow in the footsteps of her famous family.

“I can technically make fireworks now because I’m 18, but I’m thinking of going to university next year instead,” Elena said.

“But my brother Salvatore, 12, will definitely go into the business and he keeps telling my mum he’s leaving school to go do fireworks.”

This year, however, Salvatore will be content to watch with his other sister Angelina, 15, at one of the vantage points around Sydney Harbour.

“Last year we got to watch it from Dawes Point which was really cool because the atmosphere was great,” Elena said. 

“I’m not sure yet as to where I’ll be this year, but hopefully it will be somewhere with a good view.”

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’.

Twitter: #NYESYD     sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

The post Three generations of fireworks going off this NYE appeared first on Sydney New Years Eve 2012.

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• It draws larger crowds than Paris (100,000), London (700,000), Berlin (1 million) and New York City (1 million) with about 1.6 million people gathering on the Sydney Harbour foreshore and 2.6 million watching the fireworks on TV.

• An estimated 1 billion people around the world see the Sydney New Year’s Eve Midnight Fireworks and Bridge Effect and research by Events NSW found that Sydney New Year’s Eve contributes $156 million to the local economy.

• Fifteen months of hard work go into designing and preparing Sydney New Year’s Eve each year. The City of Sydney’s NYE12 team has already started work on 2013 Sydney New Year’s Eve.

• The 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve Creative Director, Kylie Minogue, has worked with the City’s team of six full-time Sydney New Year’s Eve staff led by Producer Aneurin Coffey, to develop the Embrace theme for this year’s event.

• Kylie describes Embrace as “all about acceptance, tolerance, fun and, above all, love”.

• The Embrace icon is a swirl of coloured sails in magenta, yellow, purple and red, which is marked with Kylie’s signature K.

• Embrace has four subthemes: Embrace Love, Embrace Sydney, Embrace the Possibility and Embrace the Moment.

• The City has developed a special smartphone app with Telstra that will light up people’s phone screens in tandem with the colour lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House to mark the end of 2012.

• The synchronised colour moments will occur at 10.15pm, 11pm, 11.30pm and 11.45pm to build up excitement as the clock ticks closer to midnight, and app users will be reminded to hold their phones to the sky to be a part of the celebration, transforming the harbour with a sea of colour.

• Each year the top-secret Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect is a highly anticipated part of the night and is only revealed following the end of the Midnight Fireworks display. The effect has been a highlight since the mid-1990s when a smiley face appeared.

• Other bridge effects have included a peace symbol and dove (2002), a heart (2005) and an hourglass (2007).

• Over 1,000 accredited personnel work on the night of the event to ensure everything runs smoothly, with 300 volunteers also pledging their time and support to help with Sydney New Year’s Eve.

• The night begins when the words ‘Welcome to Sydney’ are projected on the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 16 languages, including English, Gadigal, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Greek, Italian, Swahili, Korean, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. These languages represent Sydney’s top migrant populations and tourist nationalities.

• The fireworks display is carefully designed by Sydney’s Foti International Fireworks, led by Fireworks Director Fortunato Foti, and requires a pyrotechnical crew of 45 people. This is the 13th consecutive year the company has been involved in Sydney New Year’s Eve. Foti Fireworks is a carbon-neutral company that uses carbon credits, low-environmental-impact fireworks and recycling.

• Approximately 11,000 shells, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 individual pyrotechnic effects will be used in the display, which is made up of 7 tonnes of fireworks.

• Fourteen shipping containers of equipment, weighing 120 tonnes, are needed for both the 9PM Family Fireworks and Midnight Fireworks displays.

• Twelve computers will digitally launch the fireworks from Sydney Harbour Bridge, barges and buildings, shooting 10,000 cues. The computers will be used to fire the show and will ensure the fireworks are synchronised to the music.

• More than 60 kilometres of wire and cables link the launch computers and there are 130 firing points on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

• The 9PM Family Fireworks will go off from four fireworks barges, while the Midnight Fireworks will ascend from seven barges and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

• Fireworks will also be launched from the rooftops of seven city buildings including the Four Seasons Hotel, Gold Fields House, Gateway, AMP Centre tower, Chifley Tower, Governor Phillip Tower and AMP Sydney Cove.

• The Harbour of Light Parade features 52 illuminated boats, which make a majestic passage within and around the Sydney Harbour Exclusion Zone after the 9PM Family Fireworks, building up excitement before the countdown to midnight.

• The boats carry over 8,000 people and join more than 3,000 other vessels celebrating NYE on Sydney Harbour

To download the NYE12 smartphone app, visit sydneynewyearseve.com/app or search your app store for ‘Sydney New Year’s Eve’.

Twitter: #NYESYD      sydneynewyearseve.com/media-centre

For a safe and enjoyable 2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve:

• Download the NYE12 app, created with Telstra, to take part in the first-ever Sydney Harbour interactive light show;
• Pick a vantage point in advance and be aware popular areas fill up quickly;
• Plan ahead if you’re heading to the harbour foreshore and take public transport;
• Remember not to take glass to the event, and place rubbish in the bins provided;
• Tune your radio to 104.1 2DayFM to hear the synchronised fireworks soundtracks picked by Kylie and friends; and
• Watch the live broadcast on the Nine Network or the live stream, created by Telstra, at www.sydneynewyearseve.com

2012 Sydney New Year’s Eve is proudly sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, 2DayFM, NSW Government, Sydney Opera House, Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Ports Corporation, The Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust, Telstra, Singapore Airlines, Production Resource Group, Technical Direction Company, Imagination, Yellowglen, Coca-Cola Amatil, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, The Menzies Hotel, Scarborough Wine Co, Carlton and United Breweries, Ciroc (Diageo), Action Sound, Interface and PA People.

For media enquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus, phone 0467 803 815 or email jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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