Fundraising For ACV/GARDS Memorial For Asbestos Sufferers

"We used to climb over that [asbestos lagging], it was just like fluff and it used to blow up into the air and we used to throw it at each other and play in it and have a good old time. That was just normal."

Former power station employee

Thousands of people have died of asbestos-related illnesses in the Latrobe Valley since the power industry began. Although the adverse health effects of asbestos were noted as early as 1899 and the lethality of asbestos recognised by governments in Britain and the United States, the dangers of asbestos only became widely-known in Australia in the 1970s.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the SEC was informed of the dangers of exposure to asbestos dust in its power stations but the information was widely disregarded by the authorities. A former SEC employee at Yallourn power station noted that in the 1960s ‘you could walk into “A” station and you couldn’t see the other end of the boilers.’

Victoria banned the use of asbestos in 2003, but the use of asbestos in the power stations of the Latrobe Valley has contributed to the development of asbestos-related disease in thousands of people. Asbestos-related illnesses have affected not only workers’ families but also the whole community.

Memorial Fundraising 1

ACV/GARDS Memorial Sculpture

This sculpture is designed as a memorial to the people who lost their lives to asbestos-related diseases contracted at power stations in the Latrobe Valley. The sculpture depicts a power worker with his young daughter to recognise that asbestos-related diseases did not, and do not, just impact workers but their whole families too.

The sculpture uses a contemporary art approach to revitalise narratives of the power stations in a way that is both respectful and historically accurate. Design work has been driven by historical research into clothing and objects from the 1960s era, with styles carefully chosen by ACV/ GARDS to reflect the 1920s-80s to ensure the sculpture is relatable to all impacted families.

The man and child have a familiar, unimposing stance. They will be produced at 1:1.15 scale to evoke a sense of connection to and empathy with the lived and personal experiences of those impacted by asbestos-related diseases.

ACV/GARDS have wanted to commemorate the thousands of people who died across the Latrobe Valley through a memorial for over 25 years. Proposed to be located in the Moe Botanical Gardens, this sculpture will provide a dedicated and accessible place for community reflection and remembrance at long last.

ACV/GARDS Mural

This mural is designed to complement the memorial sculpture and will be accompanied by an interpretive panel.

The mural depicts workers leaving their workplaces, against a background of the five current and former power stations in the Latrobe Valley: Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B, Morwell, Yallourn and Hazelwood.

The stories of these workers remain largely untold, but many became ill or died as a result of asbestos-related diseases.

Artists concept drawing of a mural depicting people leaving a powerstation workplace in the 1950s and 60s. Colours are green, grey, purple and black and white.

Join us and make this memorial dream a reality

Read the Prospectus to find out more and meet the artists.

> Download the GARDS Memorial prospectus 2026 (pdf)

Add your financial support – help us fund-raise or make a donation.

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Artists impression of the ACV/GARDS Scultpure and Mural in position

Artists concept of a bronze memorial sculpture of a male power station worker holding his young daughter. Behind this is an artists impression of a mural painted onto the back wall of a shelter building. They are both in a botanical park.
Artists concept of a mural painted onto the back wall of a shelter building in a botanical park.
Artists concept of a mural painted onto the back wall of a shelter building in a botanical park.