On the evening of January 5, 1975, Don had driven his mother to her home in West Hobart and then returned to Lindisfarne.

He recalls he got “every green light” and it was a quick trip. He noted the bulk ore carrier ‘Lake Illawarra’ from Rosny Point. Moments after he arrived home, he heard “an enormous bang” but had no idea what caused it.

When the Mercury rang to say "go to the Tasman Bridge, it’s just been knocked down” Don said: “It can’t be, I’ve just crossed it.”

Don’s photograph still lives in the memory and also on the website describing this tragic event. Twelve lives were lost that night and a 60-metre section of the bridge was knocked out, severing the Eastern shore’s link to Hobart.