foreshores to view the events on the harbour. The highlight was the biggest parade of sail ever held in Sydney, square-riggers from all over the world, surrounded by hundreds of smaller craft of every description, passing majestically under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The day's festivities culminated in a fireworks display in which the bridge was the focal point of the finale, with fireworks streaming from the arch and roadway. This was to become the pattern for later firework displays. Sydney New Year's Eve The Harbour Bridge has been an integral part of the Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations, generally being used in spectacular ways during the fireworks displays at 9pm and midnight. In recent times, the bridge has included a ropelight display on a framework in the centre of the eastern arch, which is used to complement the fireworks. The scaffolding and framework were clearly visible for some weeks before the event, revealing the outline of the design. During the millennium celebrations in 2000, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up with the word "Eternity", as a tribute to the legacy of Arthur Stace a Sydney artist who for many years inscribed said word on pavements in chalk in copperplate writing despite the fact that he was illiterate. The effects have been as follows: NYE1997: Smiley face NYE1999: The word "Eternity" in copperplate writing NYE2000: Rainbow Serpent and Federation Star NYE2001: Uluru, the Southern Cross and the Dove of Peace NYE2002: Dove of Peace and the word "PEACE" NYE2003: Light show NYE2004: "Fanfare" NYE2005: Three concentric hearts NYE2006: Coathanger and a diamond NYE2007: Mandala NYE2008: The Sun NYE2009: Taijitu Symbol, a Blue moon and a ring of fire NYE2010: Handprint, "X" Mark and a Spot NYE2011: Thought Bubble, Sun and Endless Rainbow NYE2012: Butterfly and a Lip NYE2013: Eye NYE2014: Light bulb NYE2015 onwards: Light shows The numbers for the New Year's Eve countdown also appear on the eastern side of the Bridge pylons. Walk for Reconciliation In May 2000, the bridge was closed to vehicular access for a day to allow a special reconciliation march—the "Walk for Reconciliation" – to take place. This was part of a response to an Aboriginal Stolen Generations inquiry, which found widespread suffering had taken place amongst Australian Aboriginal children forcibly placed into the care of white parents in a little-publicised state government scheme. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people were estimated to have walked