The Day the Bridge Fell by Coral Vass PAPERBACK 9781761112799

Wombat Books

Ray Johnston and his best friend Tom, nearing the end of their first year in high school in Melbournes vibrant innerwestern suburbs, develop a fascination with Melbournes new West Gate Bridge. After school, they regularly go to the bustling construction site to talk to the workers and collect mementos from the debris. To Ray and the community, the bridge symbolises more than a mere transportation link from the western suburbs to Melbournes CBD. It represents progress, superiority and power, filling Ray with immense pride as his father, Doug Johnston, serves as the lead rigger, and his neighbour, George Demetriou, works as an ironworker. One fateful day, Ray stumbles upon a conversation between a bridge engineer and a foreman. They express serious concern about a buckle in the bridge and discuss plans to loosen the bridges bolts the following day. Tormented by this secret, Ray confides in Tom and ultimately decides to share his fears with his father. But his father tells him to keep quiet about it. Although Ray fears for his fathers and Georges safety, he agrees. The next day, shortly before noon, Ray is in his class at school when he hears piercing sirens wailing. He sprints towards the bridge, only to find a scene of utter devastation and chaos. Driven by desperation, he joins the courageous team of workers, relentlessly searching for his father amidst the wreckagefighting against time to save lives. On the cusp of adulthood, the two young friends face their own individual... | Coral Vass The Day the Bridge Fell Paperback Book