On a dark foggy evening in May 1943, the Australian border towns of Wodonga and Albury were forever scarred by Australia’s worst level crossing disaster. When the details became clear the entire nation gasped. A timber bus, packed with jubilant servicemen and women on well-deserved leave, collided with a massive railway engine travelling in reverse with lights blacked out due to wartime regulations.

In an instant, 25 lives were lost, and countless others shattered.

This gripping true story unravels the chain of events leading to the collision, the harrowing aftermath, and the extraordinary heroics of those who fought to save lives amidst the wreckage. As the nation reeled from the shock, questions about accountability were met with silence, leaving grieving families to fight for justice against a wall of bureaucratic indifference.

Death by Misadventure: The true story of the Wodonga Tragedy, brings to life a forgotten chapter of Australian history, honouring the victims and survivors while shedding light on a calamity that shook a nation—and demands to be remembered.