Day 9 at Wooreen: Kidnapped with nine Children... A True Account of the Crime that Shocked Australia

by Rob Hunter

Kidnapped on his ninth day of teaching with nine students, Rob Hunter retells the story of how Edwin John Eastwood, the Faraday kidnapper, having escaped from prison, burst into the remote South Gippsland school and at gun point, took Rob and his nine students hostage. Day 9 at Wooreen brings alive the story of the Wooreen State School kidnapping of 1977. Written through the teacher’s eyes, this gripping tale gives insight into the trauma experienced by the victims, the timely heroism of logging truck driver Robin Smith and the bravery and commitment of the Victorian Police Force. The state school kidnappings of the 1970s shocked Australia. They stand as two of Victoria’s most audacious and notorious crimes. The author celebrates the healing that is possible from such pain and torment, giving the reader renewed hope in a troubled world.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History

234 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.

Reviews

[Suzanne Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving true story. It happened in a time when social media wasn't prevalent in society and communication was harder with no mobile phones. I felt it was well written. The story was easy to follow, very sequential. I am amazed at the resilience of the students but that was helped because the adults kept it together.

[Deirdre Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a moving retelling, partly due to the simplicity of its telling, about a kidnapping that took place in a time of less media, less immediate communication, and less understanding of the outcomes of such actions.
The world was different then, and reading this book makes that difference even more evident. It may have been a simpler time, but simpler responses to traumatic events' outcomes have proved ineffective. That is evident in the telling of this story.
I think this is an important book to read. While it shows how a situation changes the instant a gun is involved, it is also a little slice of the history of education in rural Victoria and a testament to the courage and robustness of people who choose to live and work in remote places.

[Hayley (hayleys.little.library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Kidnapped on his ninth day of teaching, Rob Hunter retells the story of how Edwin John Eastwood, the Faraday kidnapper, having escaped from prison, burst into his remote South Gippsland school and at gun point took Rob and nine of his students hostage’

• I read this book in one sitting yesterday!! It was so gripping and scary to read. This book is a real account of one of the biggest crimes ever committed during the late 1970’s in south Gippsland, Victoria - Australia 🇦🇺 which is my home state 🏡. I cannot even begin to comprehend the trauma that this event would have caused for everyone involved, especially for the teacher Rob who was only 20 years old and was conducting his 9th day of teaching ever!! 🙀I highly recommend to those that at interested in some true crime stories.. 4/5 stars 🌟 •

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, it's a gripping story and hard to believe it's true. With the sequence of events that unfolded, it really sounded like something Hollywood would make. However the book did suffer from too much repetition, the author hammered things home too many times. More subtlety in the writing would have been more effective.

[Heather Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a teacher in training in Australia, I had never heard of this case! A brief yet detailed overview of the events. Hunter's writing style did not appeal to me, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.

[Ellie Costantino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but the author’s writing style was too repetitive. This meant it was quite difficult to get through the story. I feel like the story could have been told in half the amount of pages and have been much more gripping.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling read of a true story from the 1970's when a man who had previously kidnapped another teacher and students at another small country school, burst into this classroom and did the same thing.
Chances occurred along the trip that could have had a different outcome.

[Janis Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping account

[Kim Mansfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bizarre. Can't believe it actually happened

[Aleisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.2 April haha

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read how scary for all involved

[Hayley Norris]

Very good book with great insight to what they were going through throughout it. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Saskia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish this one. The way it is written is quaint, but a bit amateurish.

[Libby Sanderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a dumb kidnapper, oh my goodness.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. The writing style is nothing to scoff at, but I can see that the intention of telling this story was not to show off literary skill, but to tell a story of a traumatic experience. As a teacher myself, I couldn’t I haine many things worse than something putting the lives of all my students in danger at once. I think it would have been very therapeutic for Hunter to write this story as sharing things helps us to process and heal. I enjoyed reading this book, it’s quite short and an easily digestible read.