My Dad was a boilermaker named Bob, who was on the job and survived, and went through exactly what Tommy said in the rare recollections he has put into words over the years. Went back 18 months later also. The damage it did to these blokes is hard to understand and the courage unbelievable. To see someone suffer in silence their entire adult life because of this without so much as even a counsellor has had a massive impact on all of us. My deepest regards go to those who lost their loved ones, and those who survived and worked alongside him.
My dad was an old-school glazier and a firm supporter of the FFTS (Federated Furnishing Trade Society), which protected glaziers for their VERY specific needs, they have now been absorbed by the CFMEU, a sign of the times I guess. Anyway, my dad used to glaze high-rise buildings in the city of Melbourne well before we had the OHS laws we have now. He remembers dangling over high rises in a flimsy cage, and the wind being so strong it would actually rip through 'canvas'. He also remembers seeing the deaths of several men on building sites, one of whom had sheets of glass land on him and crush him to death, another who just happened to be in the way of a massive sheet of glass falling from a five story building, it hit the ground, bounced up and cut this man's neck wide open. It hit the jugular and the man bled out in minutes, well before ANY emergency services could arrive to , at least, TRY to save him. So, when dad heard of the horror of the 'Westgate Bridge' collapse, he, and his fellow workers, shot out there to see what was going on. Dad said that it was absolute carnage and chaos, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Dad's words verbatim; "I remember when the bridge was opened it was soured by the terrible loss of life when one span collapsed and so many innocent lives were lost on the terrible day I remember driving down to have a look at the collapsed span that day some of the bodys were never found feared buried in the mud". It wasn't long after my birth in 1978 that dad decided to give up his business, and take on a job that would mean he was safer and would not be put in a position where it was debatable from one-day-to-the-next if he would come home at night to see his family. This was a HUGE decision for my dad, and it hurt him deeply, as he loved his work, and he loved running his own business partnership, but he put his family before all of it. Love ya dad!! And so glad you're still here xxx ooo
My Dad was on that bridge the day it fell he lived with the nightmares all his life . He said he and his surviving mates had run for their lives when the heard the rumble and scream of the fall span . He and his coworkers helped find the bodies /parts of his mates . A terrible day in history ....A terrible day for any survivors as the nightmares must have been with them just like my dad...
hi, I'm actually doing a school project on survivor story I would really appreciate it if you could share some information with me on what your father saw from his point of view please get back to me. thanks
Straight talk from the working man. Good on ya for this insight of how the workers were treated in the day. Strong unions are the answer to government and corporate bullshit
Unfortunately I have to say most of us would get the sack. Construction worker rights are getting down again. As we are all hired on a casual basis they would just tell us all that it’s time to search for our next job.
Very informative, just watched a vid about the collapse, this is a great first hand account, must have been a dreadful experience, but thanks for this.
My husband and I broke down on the Westgate Bridge 4 times in exactly the same spot, just as the bridge started to descend, heading towards the city. Twice on a motorbike, twice in a car. We lived north of the city and rarely used the bridge, so it made the breakdowns even more uncanny. Anyone else had a similar experience?
I cross the bridge several times a week and every time I think of those who died and were injured. To be honest, with the amount of traffic it carries these days I don't trust it and am eager to get off it every time I go across.
Yeah I've seen them working on it over the years, I always wonder how well it is holding up given today's traffic levels and the additional lane that used to be the emergency lane.
TOTAL DISGRACE AND I'II TELL YOU YOU SOMETHING I WAS INJURED AT WORK HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO MY JOB IN OVER 30 YEARS NO COUNSELLING NO RETRAINING NO FUCKEN COMPENSATION NOT ONE FUCKEN PENNY AND THEY EVEN EXCEPTED LIABILITY SO NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED GOD BLESS THOSE YOU LOST THERE LIVES R.I.P
It's only a matter of time before the West Gate bridge totally collapses due to the huge unplanned weight of the steel suicide fencing along the whole length.
@@NoTaboos You think that if a bridge is designed to carry, say, 50,000 cars per day, exceeding this by a single car will cause it to collapse? Bridges are designed to have plenty of reserve strength and redundancy.
The government doesn't and will never give a stuff about any Australian past or present Anzac or not they see you as nothing! a slave with no meaning in their eyes. That is all nothing to see here.
Even today. Such a shit bridge. Looks ugly, isnt made to carry the current weight of traffic. Nothing compares to the bolte bridge. Strength looks and quality
My Dad was a boilermaker named Bob, who was on the job and survived, and went through exactly what Tommy said in the rare recollections he has put into words over the years. Went back 18 months later also. The damage it did to these blokes is hard to understand and the courage unbelievable. To see someone suffer in silence their entire adult life because of this without so much as even a counsellor has had a massive impact on all of us. My deepest regards go to those who lost their loved ones, and those who survived and worked alongside him.
Brave man to tell what happened! Thank you! Remember the workers!
My dad was an old-school glazier and a firm supporter of the FFTS (Federated Furnishing Trade Society), which protected glaziers for their VERY specific needs, they have now been absorbed by the CFMEU, a sign of the times I guess.
Anyway, my dad used to glaze high-rise buildings in the city of Melbourne well before we had the OHS laws we have now. He remembers dangling over high rises in a flimsy cage, and the wind being so strong it would actually rip through 'canvas'.
He also remembers seeing the deaths of several men on building sites, one of whom had sheets of glass land on him and crush him to death, another who just happened to be in the way of a massive sheet of glass falling from a five story building, it hit the ground, bounced up and cut this man's neck wide open. It hit the jugular and the man bled out in minutes, well before ANY emergency services could arrive to , at least, TRY to save him.
So, when dad heard of the horror of the 'Westgate Bridge' collapse, he, and his fellow workers, shot out there to see what was going on. Dad said that it was absolute carnage and chaos, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Dad's words verbatim; "I remember when the bridge was opened it was soured by the terrible loss of life when one span collapsed and so many innocent lives were lost on the terrible day I remember driving down to have a look at the collapsed span that day some of the bodys were never found feared buried in the mud".
It wasn't long after my birth in 1978 that dad decided to give up his business, and take on a job that would mean he was safer and would not be put in a position where it was debatable from one-day-to-the-next if he would come home at night to see his family. This was a HUGE decision for my dad, and it hurt him deeply, as he loved his work, and he loved running his own business partnership, but he put his family before all of it.
Love ya dad!! And so glad you're still here xxx ooo
My Dad was on that bridge the day it fell he lived with the nightmares all his life . He said he and his surviving mates had run for their lives when the heard the rumble and scream of the fall span . He and his coworkers helped find the bodies /parts of his mates . A terrible day in history ....A terrible day for any survivors as the nightmares must have been with them just like my dad...
hi, I'm actually doing a school project on survivor story I would really appreciate it if you could share some information with me on what your father saw from his point of view please get back to me.
thanks
Straight talk from the working man. Good on ya for this insight of how the workers were treated in the day. Strong unions are the answer to government and corporate bullshit
This is REAL Australian History --- honest, brutal, and very human
I worked on the Avonmouth Bridge in UK . This structure almost collapsed on two occasions during construction.
poor bloke...he has scars that will never go away....worksite deaths continue to happen thou...even today
Absolutely horrific! One of my 6 year old student's father died there on that day. His name is on the memorial! Devastating for all.
Can you please explain?
A father died 50 years ago but has a 6 year old child in 2020?
@@KellyAnnM The student was 6 years old at the time of the accident.
My uncle was on top of it and rode it down. Lucky bloke not like some of his mates. :(
Good to see you alive and well Mr Watson. I was your neighbour in Simmons drive seaholme. Go the dees.
Unfortunately I have to say most of us would get the sack. Construction worker rights are getting down again.
As we are all hired on a casual basis they would just tell us all that it’s time to search for our next job.
Respect.... so sad to hear what happened.... 50 years next week...
Very informative, just watched a vid about the collapse, this is a great first hand account, must have been a dreadful experience, but thanks for this.
So sad to see this bloke talking about it, take care mate xxx
Tough and well said.
My husband and I broke down on the Westgate Bridge 4 times in exactly the same spot, just as the bridge started to descend, heading towards the city. Twice on a motorbike, twice in a car. We lived north of the city and rarely used the bridge, so it made the breakdowns even more uncanny. Anyone else had a similar experience?
This is absolutely devastating to watch
No wonder they didn't get any help, Bolte was the premier at the time and what an arsehole he was.......
I hope that it's the worst as well...I hope it doesn't have a replay.
I'm sorry for your losses.
I cross the bridge several times a week and every time I think of those who died and were injured.
To be honest, with the amount of traffic it carries these days I don't trust it and am eager to get off it every time I go across.
I feel the same everytime I drive over too. I always think of those that lost their lives. And a prayer for little Darcy.
Yeah I've seen them working on it over the years, I always wonder how well it is holding up given today's traffic levels and the additional lane that used to be the emergency lane.
TOTAL DISGRACE AND I'II TELL YOU YOU SOMETHING I WAS INJURED AT WORK HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO MY JOB IN OVER 30 YEARS NO COUNSELLING NO RETRAINING NO FUCKEN COMPENSATION NOT ONE FUCKEN PENNY AND THEY EVEN EXCEPTED LIABILITY SO NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED GOD BLESS THOSE YOU LOST THERE LIVES R.I.P
This was a disgrace
well said was how it was. too many mates lost
Man deserves a payout
I Hope Australian Tv Networks 2 7 9 10 Respect October 15th 2020 50 th Anniverary
It's only a matter of time before the West Gate bridge totally collapses due to the huge unplanned weight of the steel suicide fencing along the whole length.
You don’t think the traffic weighs far more than some fencing?
@@nkt1 Irrelevant.
@@NoTaboos The load that a bridge is designed to carry is not irrelevant.
@@nkt1 "designed to carry". I rest my case.
@@NoTaboos You think that if a bridge is designed to carry, say, 50,000 cars per day, exceeding this by a single car will cause it to collapse? Bridges are designed to have plenty of reserve strength and redundancy.
💙💙💙💙💙
Well said Mr Watson.
They were different times. Some call them "the good old days". Well, those with rose coloured glasses do.
Regulations are written in blood so e say. And they couldn't be more right.
I heard he was awarded the men's butts discount by the mayor of the city. Is that true? Sounds like a tall tale, if you ask me.
The government doesn't and will never give a stuff about any Australian past or present Anzac or not they see you as nothing! a slave with no meaning in their eyes. That is all nothing to see here.
Even today. Such a shit bridge. Looks ugly, isnt made to carry the current weight of traffic. Nothing compares to the bolte bridge. Strength looks and quality