Asbestos Awareness Memorial Day at Jack Watkins Park was a celebration of the lives of the asbestos campaigners Jack Watkins, Colin Arthur, Professor Jack Alpers, Bernie Banton, who all passed away in 2007.   This day was also for the victims of asbestos conditions and their families.

The Hon. Paul Caica planted one of the Eucalyptus Ironbark Trees behind the Old Islington Railyard Workers Memorial in remembrance to the four very special asbestos campaigners and all asbestos victims, who lost their lives.  The Port Adelaide/Enfield Council generously dug the holes and supplied five Eucalyptus Sideroxylon (Ironbark trees) and helped plant the trees in remembrance of the four asbestos campaigners and asbestos victims.  Thank you to The Hon. Paul Caica, for the planting of an Ironbark tree.

The Hon. Paul Caica announced the “Asbestos Safety Action Plan” is now in place and can be put into action. Thank you so very much to The Hon. Mike Rann, The. Hon. Michael Atkinson, The Hon. Paul Caica, The Hon. John Hill, The Hon.Gail Gaigo, SafeWork SA and to everyone in the Asbestos Coalition and those who had input in the making of the “Asbestos Safety Action Plan” a reality.

Many thanks to Mayor Gary Johanson and the Port Adelaide/Enfield Council for their generosity and gift of 5 Eucalyptus Trees and the digging of the holes for the trees to be planted. Thank you to Jeff Thomas for helping with the arrangements for the day. Many thanks also to ATEC, for their generosity, for the making of the 5 crosses.

 Article by Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia