Providing dedicated community support for sufferers and their families since 1979
mesothelioma - asbestosis - silicosis - lung cancer
In 2021, the ADSA launched a community education campaign to discourage visitors to the closed mining town of Wittenoom, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. After disturbing images were flashed across social media of ‘adventure tourists’ playing in the deadly dust of Wittenoom, we decided to monitor this behaviour and develop a communications strategy that would get the message through that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, especially in relation to contracting incurable mesothelioma cancer. It appears that many people today are unaware of Wittenoom’s legacy - that it continues to kill. Sadly, we know the death toll from Wittenoom won’t stop, until the visitors stop.
To read more about the Wittenoom Community Education Campaign, click here. For regular campaign updates, follow us on Facebook or sign up for our email newsletter.
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We recently hosted an online petition for a permanent memorial to be erected in Karijini National Park with the names of the thousands of Wittenoom workers, residents, traditional owners and their family members who lost their lives to asbestos-related diseases.
As the time between initial asbestos exposure and the onset of symptoms is usually 20 to 50 years, we will also be allocating space on the memorials for the hundreds, even thousands, of victims that have yet to be diagnosed.
We hope these memorials will create a beautiful place for loved ones to reflect and grieve. We also hope it will act as a deterrent for those tempted to visit Wittenoom. To read more about the petition, click here.
ADSA CEO Melita Markey speaks to The West Australian travel writer Will Yeoman about the dangers awaiting tourists in Wittenoom.
Released in 1990, Midnight Oil's 'Blue Sky Mine' was inspired by Wittenoom workers who contracted various asbestos-related diseases. The ‘blue’ refers to blue asbestos.
Bronwen Duke has lost 14 family members to asbestos-related diseases. She highlights the importance of placing names on our proposed memorials, and allowing space for future sufferers.
ADSA CEO Melita Markey spoke to Jenny Seaton on Curtin Radio's The Afternoon Show about the risk of visiting Wittenoom, the need to clean up the area, and ASDA's petition for permanent memorials.