A FORMER spray hand’s daughter has told of her father’s concern that toxic chemical use during his career might have led to his death.
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Charlie Goldsworthy died in 1998 from bowel cancer that had spread to his liver.
His daughter Jenny Cole said her father became sick within eight years of leaving the Victorian Lands Department.
“I remember sitting in the hospital with him. There were all these photos on the wall saying ‘you should eat properly’,” Ms Cole said.
“He said ‘I’ve eaten all my own grown vegies all my life. I wonder what I’ve done wrong. Maybe it was the chemicals I used’.”
FULL COVERAGE:
- PART ONE: Former State Government weed eradicators make startling claims of appalling safety standards when working with dangerous chemicals in the Ballarat and wider goldfields region.
- PART TWO: Complaints by spray hands regarding chemical use were ignored by authorities and unions.
- Bill Shorten calls for broader inquiry into toxic chemical use
- Victorian Government to launch internal inquiry into toxic chemical use of former Victorian Lands Department weed eradicators
Ms Cole said bowel cancer was hereditary from her father’s side of the family.
“He loved his job because he was outdoors, in the bush,” Ms Cole said.
“He never had a sick day, except when he hurt his knee.
“We never knew what chemicals he was using, we all just remember that smell.”
Ms Cole said she hoped an inquiry into toxic chemical use by the former Victorian Lands Department would provide her with answers.
“I’d be disappointed if his bosses and those above him knew it was wrong, that they would put their workers in that sort of situation,” she said.
“They were told it was safe to drink. He’d mix the chemicals in the drum with his hands then eat his sandwiches with no water to wash his hands.”
- - Tommy Goldsworthy
Charlie’s twin brother, Tommy Goldsworthy, said he remembered his sibling questioning whether the chemical use was linked to the onset of cancer.
“I was living in Ballarat at the time and I’d see him and he’d talk about what he’d been doing,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“They were told it was safe to drink. He’d mix the chemicals in the drum with his hands then eat his sandwiches with no water to wash his hands.”
Charlie worked at the Clunes depot alongside Barry Goldsmith, who spoke to The Courier about using toxic chemicals while working for the Victorian Lands Department.
Mr Goldsmith said Charlie did the majority of the mixing of chemicals.
Mr Goldsmith said he wanted an inquiry to publicly acknowledge that his job exposed him to toxic chemicals.
“We want to clear the air on how dangerous the chemicals really were. We were told they weren’t dangerous,” Mr Goldsmith said.
“I’d just want them to acknowledge that we were right all along – that the chemicals were harmful.
“We were treated like bloody mushrooms as far as I’m concerned. All complaints fell on deaf ears.”
Mr Goldsmith said he would take compensation if it was made available.
“I’ve never been one to ask for compensation. I’ve been a battler all my life, but I’d take it if it was offered,” he said.
He said toxic chemical use by government spray hands was not an issue limited to Victoria.
“I hope an inquiry does go Australia-wide. I know damn well it happened in other states, including Western Australia,” he said.
The investigation has jogged other memories for Mr Goldsmith, including a “poison allowance”.
“When we’d deal with poisons in the 1960s we’d be given a 50-cent poison allowance. It was a joke,” Mr Goldsmith said.
david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au