Dear Belly,

I am shocked to hear what happened to you.
And I shall pray that the test results
may give you something positive - you've
had enough negativity in your life.

I recently watched a program on the victims
of Maralinga - and what those people went
through and are still going through.

I don't have the answers as to why some humans
behave the way they do. But I am grateful
for the ones in our society (people of integrity
such as yourself) that do try to make changes
for the betterment of us all.

Well thanks all, first John Howard had not yet won office then.
And federal and state governments had not at that time introduced O H and S.
Some thing we got from Thatchers England,far better than the nothing it replaced.
Transport authority's had not introduced dangerous goods licenses, and laws.
It was not against the law to carry these three food poison radio activity together.
I hear with nothing but discust the words *we do not even know what it was or where it was buried*
Test holes had been sunk and fenced off before work started.
Here, gained yesterday, is under my arm a record of questions asked in NSW Parliament.
No date, but it names who asked the question who answered it and these products on board.
5914 assembly-questions without notice
Mr Bretiton I direct my question with out notice to the minister for health.
regarding a leakage of radio active material following a road accident near port Macquarrie.
gos on to wrongly, claim DDT was in drums, a quantity of sodium propionate and two containers of radio active materials also two or three bottles labeled strip x fatal if absorbed.
one bottle was broken.
contents not known but probably methylene chloride.
radio active materials on the truck 4 Americium 241 sources 1x8 curie 3x1 curie one caesium 137.
all quotes from those questions and answers.
Note no mention of fish kill food, over half the load.
And 32 years after not one who worked there know the results of blood tests.
Lexi my thanks in truth I thrive on fighting for fairness and recent changes in medication are helping I am ok .
My arms however from that days rain are scared and tender still.

To be tested and not be given the results? How much regard for people would that suggest? About as much as a lab rat I would think. Disgusting.

Nothing really surprises anymore Belly. The fact that you never got your blood results is just another example of why there needs to be greater responsibility and accountability for those not only in government but in the corporate sector.

Hope you get to find out soon. You can always put in an FOI request regarding the earlier incident and any other historical records. Might be worth a try.

You had to be there!
No out sider, one who did not work in such a place for some time would believe it.
I firmly think given a chance Government endeavors can do as well or better than any contractor.
But that a deliberate sabotage, at every level stands in the way.
Some of those regional managers again few,stood out as good managers, they usually the ones who left or ended up marginalized.
This whole event was under the control foreman to every layer of management, of power freaks.
Lacking ability and that is sad, but determined to be in control.
I knew those now dead,know some ill still living.
I have a lot to thank yesterdays DMR/RTA for, it gave me good wages, a result of hard work and commitment.
But todays RTA? it treats the last generation of workers well but undermines them.
Contracts often costing very much more than they did for worse work out comes , and pure lip service to O H X S.
This matter will be swept under yet another carpet, headlines talk of no radio activity.
And that is true, in my view it was never left there.
But pretending they do not know what is was, I have shown here,where it is, they test drilled it, and testing for something they know is not there?
In the wrong place?
Those workers uncovered the dust that harmed us all that day in 1980.
radio activity may well have done so too that day my blood illness remains undiagnosed?

Belly,

I am not shocked at what happened to you. I like you is an 'old fart' LOL who started work in 1972. Joined the AMWSU straight away as soon as I came out of 'my time'. was a closed shop anyway, not much choice. Was union delo, on Works Committee, very hard left etc, followed a long family tradition of union, father and grandfather strong union.
Places where the union was strong pay and conditions were far better than non union shops. Conditions in my time were far better than in the 'Old Mans' time and his were better than 'Pops' time. We today owe those old blokes so much for what they fought for and won. If workers today had to endure the pay and conditions of yesteryear they couldn't join the union fast enough. There are some around today who think the 'boss' just handed out the benefits they enjoy. What they don't realise is, the boss, given half a chance, is still working hard as ever to take away pay and condition. And who said we don't need unions. Wish you the best of luck.

Cheers Paul.