<P> He became famous when on Saturday 19 March 1932 , he upstaged Lang at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge , before a crowd of 300,000 people . He was not a member of the official party but , on horseback and dressed in his military uniform , he was able to blend in with the escort party of NSW Lancers . Lang was about to cut the ribbon to formally open the bridge , when de Groot rode forward and drew his ceremonial sword , making to cut the ribbon and declare the bridge open `` in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales '' . While many accounts say de Groot succeeded in slashing the ribbon , at least one eyewitness has disputed the claim and suggested it was probably broken by the hooves of his rearing horse . </P>
<P> He became famous when on Saturday 19 March 1932 , he upstaged Lang at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge , before a crowd of 300,000 people . He was not a member of the official party but , on horseback and dressed in his military uniform , he was able to blend in with the escort party of NSW Lancers . Lang was about to cut the ribbon to formally open the bridge , when de Groot rode forward and drew his ceremonial sword , making to cut the ribbon and declare the bridge open `` in the name of the decent and respectable people of New South Wales '' . While many accounts say de Groot succeeded in slashing the ribbon , at least one eyewitness has disputed the claim and suggested it was probably broken by the hooves of his rearing horse . </P>
who cut the ribbon on the sydney harbour bridge
who cut the ribbon on the sydney harbour bridge
de Groot
de Groot