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It seems we all have tales to tell. The saddest I have concerns my time (or just after in fact) as a research chemist at the Nobel explosives factory.
A colleague with an assistant was out in a little boat on lake Eppalock laying my recently developed formulation of underwater explosive for testing. The chap on the shore, believing the signal had been given to push the plunger, did so and blew up the boat. My colleague was killed and his assistant (who could have been me) was seriously injured.
It was a good close team and we got on exceedingly well. The chap, who was then in his late 50s, and who pushed the plunger, was absolutely distraught. I doubt that he ever recovered.
My colleague had a young family. He was a great guy, an amateur magician I recall, always trying his new tricks and gimmicks on us. He owned an old beat-up FJ Holden. The chaps at the factory did a complete restoration for the bereaved family - a really nice gesture I thought.
Robert
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