The death of 35 workers in the collapse of the West Gate Bridge almost 50 years ago forms the backdrop to a new novel set in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
The Bridge, the second novel by Victoria University creative writing honorary professor Enza Gandolfo, draws on events of October 15, 1970, when a span of the half-built bridge collapsed into the river below, killing 35 workers – still Australia’s worst industrial accident.
Gandolfo said the story weaves together two tales about grief and guilt, set almost 40 years apart.
While the bridge collapse strand of the story has been on her mind for years, it only came to life after she discussed the tragedy with a former worker she met by chance while working on a non-fiction book about op-shops.
“He was talking about having worked on the West Gate Bridge, he knew a lot of the guys on it when it came down,” she said.
“It was difficult for the survivors – he talked about how they were worried by what had happened, but also felt compelled to finish it.”
Gandolfo said almost all the adults she knew were factory workers, or labourers on a building site, on the railways or the wharves, where accidents happened often.
“Though I didn’t know any of the 35 men who died, their deaths had a profound impact on me.”
Research for the novel and her character Antonello, a 22-year-old Italian migrant, included reading witness statements from the inquiry into the accident.
The second strand of the story takes place in 2009, when “a terrible mistake” by character Jo causes the death of her best friend Ashleigh.
That part of the narrative came about after Gandolfo read about a young woman who had gone out drinking with her friends once night and driven home drunk.
Two of the young women in the car died and others ended up with long term injuries.
“It is not an uncommon story and I wondered what it would be like to be the one that lives after such an accident, especially if you were the driver,” Gandolfo said.
“Both of these young people have to find a way to deal with grief and guilt. For Antonello it is survivor guilt, for Jo it is that she is responsible for causing the death of her friend.”
The western suburbs feature prominently in the novel, along with a conscious consideration of class.
Gandolfo said despite being an avid reader growing up, so few of the books she read reflected anything she was experiencing in her own life in a migrant family living in the west.
“I think there could still be more writing about class in this country.”
Western suburbs writer Alice Pung, who labelled The Bridge ‘a true gem of a novel’, will be launching the book this Friday as part of The Sun Bookshop’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
The launch will be held 6.30pm at the Yarraville Masonic Hall, corner Canterbury & Willis Streets.
RSVP via info@sunbookshop.com
