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dedicated community support, advocacy and public health awareness since 1979

Welcome to the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc

Providing dedicated community support for sufferers and their families since 1979
mesothelioma - asbestosis - silicosis - lung cancer

Wittenoom Memorial Update

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.
For all media enquiries, contact Buzz Communications (0437 888 019).

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

In The Media

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.

Asbestos Awareness Videos

CEO Melita Markey speaks to The West Australian about the dangers awaiting tourists in Wittenoom. Listen to their discussion on West Travel Club's The Pod Well Travelled...
Midnight Oil's "Blue Sky Mine" was released in 1990, inspired by Wittenoom's mine workers who contracted various asbestos-related diseases. The ‘blue’ refers to blue asbestos, and the "sugar refining company" refers to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company Ltd, the owner of the mines. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's top 100 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Blue Sky Mine" was ranked number 39.
To view, print or download our latest brochure, please click on the link below.

Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc - In The News

A Perth woman suffering from terminal cancer caused by her exposure to asbestos on a home building site has been awarded more than $1 million in damages. Christine Parkin, 63, was exposed in the 1970s and 80s while helping her father build an extension to their home using cement sheets made by James Hardie Industries...
We are delighted to announce the 2020 recipient of the PROF ERIC G. SAINT MEMORIAL AWARD - Dr Sue Ulreich (CEO SKG Radiology) - in recognition of her dedicated leadership providing leading-edge diagnostic screening services for those affected by asbestos diseases. ...
According to latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Mesothelioma patients are living longer after diagnosis, despite rising death rate. The report, 'Mesothelioma in Australia 2019', shows that at 1 April ...

dedicated community support for sufferers and their families since 1979

mesothelioma | asbestosis | silicosis | lung cancer