GARDS News Item

28/04/06
GARDS ANNUAL WREATH LAYING AND INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY MEMORIAL 2006

April 28th 2006 at 11.00am in the Rose Garden in Morwell A lone bag piper playing Amazing Grace could be heard by those who had gathered to pay their respects and honour family, friends and work colleagues who were sick or who had passed way from asbestos related diseases. The ceremony was also for those who had died or been injured in work place accidents.

The event coincides with International Workers’ Memorial Day, which remembers workers’ from all around the world, more than 100 countries recognise the day. GARDS organisation announced at the ceremony that it had signed a petition on line that calls for a global asbestos ban and when the petition has 10,000 signatures from around the world it will be presented to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. The petition is seeking a ban on asbestos by governments, trade unions, medical associations and international agencies.

Speakers on the day included WorkSafe director of construction and utilities program Geoff Thomas who travelled from Melbourne to attend, he not only talked about asbestos in our communities but also about the high number of workplace deaths in Victoria.
Peter Griffiths GARDS member spoke about being diagnosed with mesothelioma and how he had gotten sick due to his work conditions. He had worked most of his life at old SECV in Yallourn power stations. He talked about how hard it is loosing work mates who had also died of asbestos related diseases and how emotional it made him feel. His diagnosis came when he noticed he was running out of breath so he went to the doctor and was tested and found to have mesothelioma. Peter has been battling mesothelioma for the last 18 months and he hopes that he has a few more good years yet to go.
Other guest speakers were: John Parker Secretary Gippsland Trades and Labour Council, Steve Plunkett asbestos litigation lawyer with Slater & Gordon and Vicki Hamilton Secretary of GARDS.

Pictures below show workers at the event and wreaths that were laid in honour of loved ones lost

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