Professor Saint Memorial Award
The Annual Emeritus Professor Eric G. Saint Memorial Award was created by the ADSA 31 years ago to honour those whose who contribute to relieving suffering, improving workplace safety, promoting awareness, and making profound changes to regulation, law, and an asbestos safe society.
In 1947 Professor Saint, a former WW2 air force officer and pilot, joined the flying doctor service in the Pilbara. Professor Saint, “appalled” at the working conditions and the amount of dust in the Australian Blue Asbestos (ABA) mine at Wittenoom, wrote to the Commissioner of Public Health Department of Western Australia Dr Cecil Cook, warning of the serious health risk to the workers, including the likelihood they would develop asbestosis. Professor Saint wrote:
“The asbestos mine at Wittenoom, let the record state, operates without any sort of dust extractor whatsoever. In a year or two, ABA will produce the richest and most lethal crop of asbestosis cases in the world’s literature.”
Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Position | Dedication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Professor Paul Moroz BSC (HONS), MBBS, PHD(DIST), FRACS | Oncologic & Bariatric Surgeon & Director Of The Western Australian Peritonectomy Service | In recognition of his founding leadership of the Western Australian Peritonectomy Service in 2013, his longstanding dedication and surgical expertise in the treatment of advanced abdominal cancers, including peritoneal mesothelioma and his combined contributions to patient care, medical education, and innovative research have established new treatment pathways and improved outcomes for patients across Western Australia. |
| 2026 | Ms Chloe Charlesworth | Pleural Clinical Nurse Consultant (SCGH) | In recognition of her dedicated service in respiratory nursing since graduating from Edith Cowan University in 2010. Her advanced clinical expertise in lung cancer and pleural diseases developed over a decade of practice, and her commitment to patient‑centred care, education, and quality improvement, including leadership in respiratory nursing upskilling during the COVID‑19 pandemic, supporting patients and families through all stages of their pleural disease pathway. |
| 2025 | Ms Suzanne John | Investigative Journalist, Author, and Tireless Advocate for Justice | In recognition of her unwavering commitment to the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia, asbestos disease sufferers, and their families. Through her exceptional storytelling, she illuminated the plight of those affected, capturing widespread media attention. Her work brought the public, Government, and those responsible face to face with the devastating impact of asbestos exposure – whether at work, in the home, or through Australia’s worst industrial negligence at Wittenoom, Western Australia. |
| 2025 | Ms Lyniece Alice Bolitho | Florist, Advocate and Lover of Beauty | In recognition of her tireless advocacy in ensuring the innocent men, women and children impacted by Australia’s worst industrial negligence at Wittenoom, Western Australia, are remembered not for the tragedy and hardship, but for the beauty, resilience, and camaraderie of their community. Lyniece founded ‘Lost Wittenoom,’ a treasured space for sharing cherished memories and celebrating a vibrant past, keeping the spirit of the people of Wittenoom alive. |
| 2024 | Dr Wee Loong (Melvin) Chin | Oncologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital | In recognition of his kind support for patients in his care, his dedication and expertise in mesothelioma cancer treatment, and his leadership in new research to enhance and extend survivorship of patients affected by asbestos caused cancers. |
| 2023 | Hon. Ernie Bridge AM MLA | Former Minister for Agriculture, Water Resources and North-West | For preventing the loss of lives to deadly asbestos diseases by withdrawing government services to Wittenoom – Australia’s worst industrial disaster |
| 2022 | Professor Richard Lake | Senior Research Fellow ay NCARD | In recognition of his dedication and extensive work in mesothelioma research and immunogene therapy |
| 2021 | Professor Gary Lee | Head of Pleural Medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital | In recognition of his dedication to the development of respiratory treatments to enhance the quality of life of patients affected by asbestos diseases, his work on national and international training in the treatment of asbestos diseases, and the kind support of patients in his care |
| 2020 | Dr Sue Ulreich | CEO SKG Radiology | In recognition of her dedicated leadership in providing leading-edge diagnostic screening services for those sadly affected by asbestos diseases |
| 2019 | Col. Rod Willox AM | In recognition of thirty years of assistance, substantive contribution, valuable advice and input on many important endeavours of the ADSA | |
| 2018 | Hon. Kate Doust MLC | President of the Legislative Council; Member for South Metropolitan Region | In recognition of her compassionate understanding and dedication to achieve fair and just compensatory entitlements for Western Australian asbestos diseases victims and their families |
| 2017 | Dr Helen Clayson | GP and Director of Barrow Asbestos Related Disease Support (BARDS) | In recognition of her visionary and innovative approach to supporting patient their families and medical professionals in the management of malignant mesothelioma |
| 2016 | Stephenson Arthur Aiberti | ADSA Committee Member | In recognition of his dedication to the support of asbestos diseases sufferers and their families |
| 2015 | Dr Peter Leaver | Radiologist, SKG Radiology | In recognition of his dedicated and compassionate approach to identify and characterise the early process of asbestos caused diseases facilitating early intervention and better patient care |
| 2014 | Professor Anna Nowak | Medical Oncologist | In recognition of her visionary and innovative approach to oncology, treatment, and for the compassion, understanding, and excellence in care she tirelessly provides to asbestos diseases sufferers |
| 2013 | Philip Anthony Toia | ADSA Committee Member | In recognition of his dedicated commitment to the ADSA and asbestos diseases victims and their families |
| 2012 | Laurie Kazan-Allen | Coordinator International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) | In recognition of her dedicated commitment to free the world of the asbestos scourge and her compassionate support for asbestos diseases victims |
| 2011 | Bruce Grattan Horgan | ADSA Occupational Health and Safety Officer | In recognition of his dedicated service to the Australian community in his voluntary capacity as Occupational Health and Safety Officer with the ADSA for the past 30 years |
| 2010 | Professor Keith Shilkin | Head of Histopathology at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital | In honour of his outstanding achievements in the field of diagnositc pathology for the benefit of the Australian community |
| 2009 | Barry Watts | ADSA Secretary and Union Official | In recognition of his extraordinary dedication and effort in the struggle for the rights and justice of the asbestos disease victims and their families |
| 2008 | John Gordon | Senior Counsel Slater and Gordon | Dedicated senior counsel specialising in asbestos diseases litigation, provided valuable legal advice to many asbestos victims and their families |
| 2007 | Professor Michael Byrne | Consultant Oncologist | In recognition of his courage and vision for the establishment of medical oncology in western australia and for the compassion, understanding and care he has provided to members of ADSA |
| 2006 | Naomi Hammon | Medical Secretary to Professor Musk | In recognition of her compassion, understanding and care extended over many years to countless asbestos disease patients and their families |
| 2005 | Dave Hall | ADSA Vice-President | In recognition of his dedicated efforts in the struggle for the rights and justice of the asbestos victims and their families |
| 2004 | Antonella Conte | ADSA Community Development Officer | Dedicated and caring staff member and Community Development Officer providing care and assistance to ADSA members |
| 2003 | Luisa Formato | Dedicated and caring legal practitioner specialising in asbestos diseases litigation | |
| 2002 | Robert Vojakovic AM | ADSA President | Dedicated volunteer and researcher assisting asbestos diseases sufferers with medical/legal issues |
| 2001 | Gerrit (Gary) Van Burgel OAM | ADSA South West Representative | Caring and dedicated volunteer providing assistance to members of the ADSA in the South West of WA |
| 2000 | Oscar Pennetta | Inaugral member of the ADSA and former Vice-President | Caring and dedicated volunteer |
| 1999 | Maris Deleuil | Healthcare Professional | Caring and dedicated health care professional assisting Dr Deleuil with patient care |
| 1999 | Dr Greg Deleuil AM | General Practitioner and ADSA Medical Officer | Dedicated GP specialising in asbestos diseases, provided care and treatments to thousands of asbestos diseases victims and their families |
| 1998 | Peter Gordon | Senior Partner Slater and Gordon National | |
| 1997 | Rose Marie Vojakovic AM | ADSA Senior Counsellor and Office Manager | Dedicated and caring counsellor of ADSA members and their families |
| 1996 | Professor Bruce Robinson | Respiratory Specialist and Epidemiologist; Director of NCARD | World authority on mesothelioma |
| 1996 | Professor Arthur William Musk AM | Respiratory Specialist and Epidemiologist | World authority on occupational lung diseases |
| 1995 | Dr Jim McNulty AM | Commission for Health WA | Caring doctor specialising in occupational lung diseases who made numerous warnings to asbestos mining industry |
| 1994 | Debbie Taylor | In recognition of a caring wife and mother of three infants her husband suffering from mesothelioma died at 31 years of age | |
| 1993 | Sue Morey AM | Nurse Practitioner | In recognition of special and caring dedication to patients with asbestos diseases |