Manly Student Names Crane at Royal Far West Development

Royal Far West (RFW) has officially welcomed Dirra Garra—the newly named crane now towering above its development site in Manly. The name, meaning “Dig Deep” in Wiradjuri language, was chosen by a student from Manly Village Public School as part of a special naming competition hosted in partnership with Multiplex, the construction company delivering the development.

The initiative invited students from RFW neighbour and long-term community partner, Manly Village Public School, to submit name ideas that reflect the spirit of resilience and community. Dirra Garra was selected for its powerful message and cultural significance, and now proudly adorns the second crane supporting the next phase of construction.

The student behind the winning entry was celebrated at a special event with representatives from RFW, Multiplex, and Manly Village Public School, and received a LEGO construction set as a prize. Visitors to Manly can now see Dirra Garra flying proudly high above the development site.

“This initiative has been a beautiful way to bring our community together and celebrate the next chapter in our journey,” said Jacqui Emery, CEO of Royal Far West. “We’re proud to stand alongside Manly Village Public School, our special neighbour that we have collaborated with many times over the years, to celebrate this important milestone in the development project that will create a space that will support country children and their families for generations to come.”

The crane, a fully electric Liebherr Litronic model, stands approximately 42 metres tall and has a lifting capacity of 12 tonnes. It plays a vital role in the construction of RFW’s development, the RFW neighbourhood, which will include revitalised accommodation for country families, waterfront apartments, and a mix of retail and lifestyle spaces. This unique development will support RFW’s ability to gift healthcare to more country children and families and also provide amenity to our local Manly community.

“The installation of the second tower crane is an exciting milestone for the team, and we’re looking forward to delivering the next stage of construction,” said David Ghannoum, Regional Managing Director of New South Wales at Multiplex.

“The ‘Name the Crane’ competition has been a fantastic opportunity to connect with local students and highlight the importance of Royal Far West’s work.”” ”

RFW has been a pillar of the Manly community for 100 years, providing essential developmental and mental health services to children from rural and remote areas across Australia. The development is designed to future-proof the charity’s operations and ensure continued support for country families who face barriers to accessing healthcare.

About Royal Far West: Royal Far West is a specialist child development service providing vital support to improve the health and wellbeing of country children. For more information visit www.royalfarwest.org.au For more information on the development www.rfwneighbourhood.com.au