I was working at the Altona petrol refinery when word came that we had to shut down the pipelines to the storage tanks in Yarraville.

Initial reaction: ‘You’ve got to be joking! We’ll have to turn the refinery inside out to do that.’ and then the reason, ‘The bridge has collapsed over the pipes and there are workers trapped.’ ‘Shut down the pipes!!’ was our immediate response. If we were in difficulties at the refinery, at the bridge site an awful tragedy had occurred resulting in the death 35 workers. It deepened my awareness of safety on work sites and forms my prayers for workplace safety. A time to remember.

See Vic Govt Public Records of the West Gate Bridge collapse,  video of ABC TV NEWS of 1970  and Services marking the 40 years to be held today.