Fundraising For ACV/GARDS Memorial For Asbestos Sufferers

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 widelyknown 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 asbestosrelated 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.

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