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Tag: WA

Compensation Entitlements for Sufferers of Asbestos-Related disease

Did you know there are compensation entitlements available to sufferers of asbestos-related disease? But there are things they need to know…

Sufferers of asbestos diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural disease are often unaware that they have compensation entitlements and that there are time limits restraining how long they have to commence a claim.

Different countries and indeed each State of Australia have their own specific time limits.

Some States have no time limit while others have extremely strict time limits.  For the States with strict time limits, a person is barred from bringing a claim for compensation if they do not commence proceedings within the legally allotted time frame.  This means if a sufferer commences proceedings after the relevant time limit expires then they are, in most circumstances, no longer entitled to compensation.

The matter of time limits is complicated particularly where a person has exposure to asbestos in more than one state and/or overseas.  It is, for this reason, it is imperative that sufferers of asbestos disease seek legal advice from an expert asbestos lawyer as soon as they are diagnosed with an asbestos disease to ensure their entitlements are protected.

When it comes to people suffering from mesothelioma seeking legal advice as a matter of urgency is imperative, as court proceedings must be commenced in their lifetime to ensure the amount for general damages (also known as pain and suffering) survives for the benefit of their Estate.  If proceedings are not commenced within a person’s lifetime their loved ones are under-compensated.

Should you have any questions please contact us and we can ensure you are put in touch with an experienced asbestos lawyer who can provide you with obligation-free advice.

The Reflections Team

Steeltoes & Stilettos – returning to the runway

Align your brand with this unique, building and construction industry event as STEELTOES & STILETTOS returns to the runway on Saturday 21 November 2020.

This unique building and construction industry event brings the risk of asbestos to the big stage when tradies are dobbed-in and sponsored to walk the runway with a model.

With the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world and the most in-situ asbestos of all the states, asbestos has left a devastating legacy in Western Australia. One person dies every 12 hours from mesothelioma in Australia and an estimated 4000 people every year from the effects of asbestos.

We are currently experiencing a third ‘wave’ of sufferers including DIY’ers and tradies. This landmark event not only increases awareness within the building and construction industry, but it also spreads the message to the wider community.

“Master Builders salute the active role that Reflections plays in raising awareness of the potentially fatal risk of dealing with asbestos in the building and construction industry. This event brings the asbestos message to a wider audience and help make young people aware of the terrible outcomes associated with this dangerous substance.”

John Gelavis, Executive Director, Master Builders Association of Western Australia, Reflections’ Ambassador.

Tradies, both male and female, register and raise funds for the opportunity to walk the catwalk with a model at the event. There are several runway categories each representing different trades – Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, Finishes and Plumbing. On the night, the red carpet will be rolled out and guests will enjoy canapes and drinks as the top ten fundraising tradies in each category ‘strut their stuff’ in the hope of being this year’s Model Tradie of the Year.

There are a number of opportunities for you to be part of this exciting event, including:

  • Sponsorship
  • Donation of products or services
  • Participation at the event – dob-in and sponsor a tradie, and attend on the night.

If you would like to know how you can align your brand with this unique event and, thereby, the message of asbestos safety, contact event manager, Jo Morris.

Save the date – Saturday 21 November – and follow the event on Facebook and Instagram.

Starting a home reno project? Be ASBESTOS aware…

As the Christmas season draws near and we look forward to spending time relaxing with family and friends, many of us will be thinking ahead to what projects we can get done around the home or holiday house. Before you get started, check to make sure you will not be disturbing any asbestos-containing materials.

Simply drilling into a ceiling or wall, removing carpet or lino, demolishing a broken-down fibro fence… you could expose yourself, and those around you, to potentially deadly asbestos fibres.

Asbestos is a naturally occuring fibrous mineral used extensively from the mid-1940s to the mid-80s. Its versatility and fire resistance meant it was used in over 3000 household and building products, including cement sheeting, roofing tiles and guttering, electrical switchboards, and even things like window putty and vinyl tiles.

Despite its health hazards being well-known, it was in production until 1984 in Australia, phased out during the 80s, but not completely banned until 2003. But banned doesn’t mean banished! If you’re working on a building built before 1990, there’s a good chance it contains asbestos.

If asbestos is disturbed, thousands of tiny fibres are released becoming airborne. Inhalation is the most common, and most dangerous, route of exposure; with fibres becoming embedded in the lungs. This can cause scarring of the lung tissue, leading to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma – terminal cancer.

A ‘silent killer’, its health effects can take 15 to 40 years to appear. Thousands of Australians have died from or developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of handling the raw material or working with products containing it.

Building materials containing asbestos are ageing or being disturbed and by demolishing, working on or not properly maintaining these materials, the risk of exposure is increased.

You can’t see, smell or taste asbestos. If you’re unsure stop!
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure.

This guide for householders and the general public is a handy resource. The Cancer Council also offer a course to help you kNOw asbestos.

Don’t sand it, drill it, touch, or even disturb it.

BE ASBESTOS AWARE and have a safe, happy and healthy Christmas season.

STEELTOES & STILETTOS – bringing the risk of asbestos to the big stage

The building industry and community came together in the heart of Northbridge on March 9, 2019, for an evening like no other. Tradies were paired with professional models and strut- their-stuff to help bring awareness to the ongoing risk of asbestos. With the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world and significant amounts of in-situ asbestos in our built environment, asbestos has left a devastating legacy in WA. Raising awareness in the construction industry is crucial, and this landmark event also helped spread the message to the wider community.

Well done to all of the 32 tradies who were brave enough to get out on the catwalk and entertain the crowd. CONGRATULATIONS to our runway winners and runners-up and to our 2019 MODEL TRADIE – MATT ‘BUCKY’ ROGERS.

To everyone who donated to a tradie – thank you! The $28,000 raised by the tradies will be used to reduce the impact of asbestos on our community. WELL DONE TO OUR TOP FUNDRAISING TRADIE, TOM KELLEHER.

Our Major sponsor ANZ Enviro + our Runway Sponsors ABN Group, Clipsal by Schneider Electric, STEEL BLUE Boots, Planet Acoustic & Architecture along with all of our Community sponsors – thank you for your support!

Thank you Coconut Grove Bar for allowing us to transform your venue into a runway. Kai V. Ahlefeld & the talented team from Uberraum…amazing! You turned our vision into a reality! Our fantastic MC’s Carole & Russell – your style and showmanship held everything together – thank you for volunteering your time to the cause. Dene Selby and your gorgeous models who you did an amazing job –  thank you for volunteering your time and talent for the cause.

To all the amazing back-of-house team of volunteers and everyone who stepped up to help bring it all together…judges, makeup, hair, photographers, greeters and so much more. You know who you are – thank you!!

Follow the event on Facebook (@Steeltoes) and Instagram (steeltoes_stilettos) to see our ‘models’ in action. Don’t miss the lead-up to the 2020 STEELTOES & STILETTOS – you’re not going to want to miss the runway action!

Jo Morris speaks with 6PR’s Gareth Parker about the inaugural STEELTOES & STILETTOS

Jo Morris speaks with 6PR’s Gareth Parker about the inaugural Steeltoes & Stilettos to be held 9 March in the heart of Northbridge.

An event bringing the risk of asbestos to the big stage, tradies are dobbed in and sponsored to walk the catwalk with a model on the night. Funds raised by tradies will be used to reduce the impact of asbestos on the community.

For more information or to be involved, visit Steeltoes & Stilettos event website or contact:
Jo Morris | jomo@reflections.org.au | 0407 255 221

Steeltoes & Stilettos

Bringing the risk of asbestos to the big stage. Reflections, in partnership with Master Builders, the Housing Industry Association and ANZ Enviro, are pleased to introduce the inaugural Steeltoes & Stilettos event to be held 9 March 2019.

Dale Alcock & Sandra Tricoli talk about the ongoing risk of asbestos in the built environment and the need for awareness, particularly for tradies & DIY’ers.

Set to become an iconic annual industry event, ‘tradies’ will be matched with models on a catwalk in the heart of the Perth CBD. Steeltoes & Stilettos focuses on raising awareness of the risks of asbestos in our built environment while raising funds for essential medical research into a treatment for the terminal asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma.

With the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world and significant amounts of in-situ asbestos in our built environment, asbestos has left a devastating legacy in WA. Raising awareness in the construction industry is crucial, and this landmark event will also help spread the message to the wider community.

Perth’s building industry leaders – ambassadors to the event.

John Gelavis

“As a supporter of the inaugural Steeltoes & Stilettos event to be held in 2019, Master Builders salute the active role that Reflections Through Reality plays in raising awareness of the fatal risk of dealing with asbestos in the building and construction industry. Events such as these will bring the asbestos message to a wider audience and help make young people aware of the terrible outcomes associated with this dangerous substance.”

John Gelavis, Executive Director Master Builders Association of WA, Reflections Ambassador
Cath Hart

“The risk of exposure to asbestos fibres in the built environment is an issue which will need on going attention by everybody involved in the building industry for decades to come. Steeltoes & Stilettos is a great initiative for the industry to support and HIA is proud to partner with Reflections in raising awareness of the impact of asbestos in the community and the much needed funding required to underpin research into finding a cure for the dreaded mesothelioma disease.”

Cath Hart, Executive Director, Housing Industry Association
Reflections ambassador Dale Alcock

“There remains an ongoing danger to our tradies and everyone working on sites where materials containing asbestos are present. Too many people have the impression that asbestos is a thing of the past, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There needs to be greater awareness and education as to the risks involved. Only through ongoing focus in this area will we truly reduce the impact of asbestos-related deaths in our community.”

Dale Alcock, Managing Director ABN Group, Reflections Ambassador
Michael McLean

“Steeltoes & stilettos won’t protect you from exposure to asbestos, but this event will help us to increase awareness of the dangers. More importantly, raising funds for researchers to find a cure for asbestos-related disease will help save the lives of those who have contracted a life-threatening illness through exposure to asbestos fibres.”

Michael McLean, Reflections Ambassador

The event and how you can be involved.

Tradies (both male and female) will be ‘dobbed-in’ and sponsored to walk the runway with a model. Fundraising will take place in advance of the event, with the top fundraisers of each category being given opportunity to ‘strut-their-stuff’ on the evening. Fabulous prizes will be awarded.

If you would like to the demonstrate your proactive stance in minimising the impact of asbestos, there are a number of opportunities for you to be part of this exciting event…

  • Sponsorship through financial contributions – align your brand with this fun event and the important message of asbestos awareness.
  • Donations of products or services – if your company has a product or service to offer as prizes or gift bag inclusions, we would appreciate your support.
  • Participation at the event – dob-in and sponsor a tradie AND attend on the night.

Step up to play your part.

For more information or to be involved, visit Steeltoes & Stilettos event website or contact:
Jo Morris | jomo@reflections.org.au | 0407 255 221

Support for the Rafferty family in their desperate time of need

Helena Valley resident, Peter Rafferty, was given just nine months to live when he was diagnosed with the terminal disease mesothelioma in December 2015.

At 45 years of age, Peter was carrying on a happy, busy life with his wife Bec, their three sons (17, 16, 10) and foster child (3) blissfully unaware of the journey that lay ahead. Life had been full of promise as Peter and Bec planned for the future. Passionate about caring for children whose family lives are not ideal, they had fostered seven children to this point and would often find themselves with up to eight people living in their small, 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home in Helena Valley. Having done life tough as a youngster, Peter was determined to provide a stable, happy environment.

With this in mind, Peter and Bec began an owner- builder project in 2015 to increase their living area and the number of bedrooms. As a real estate agent, Peter had flexibility to work around his family and life commitments as he undertook this major project. However, life took a tragic turn when the couple received the devastating news that Peter had mesothelioma – a terminal asbestos-related cancer.

The couple were in shock as they weren’t aware at the time, of the dangers of asbestos.

Since his diagnosis, Peter has got progressively unwell and things are now looking grim. Constantly in pain, Peter has been unable to work to earn an income and his ability to continue work on their dream home has been limited.

Despite the hardships, by October 2015 the renovations were well underway with the concrete slab laid, the framework and roof up and the walls ready to be clad. Approaching the bank for finance to purchase the required materials, they were advised that, due to Peter’s lack of income and the slump in the housing market, they would be unable to re-finance until the addition was at “lock-up”.

But Peter and Bec were not entirely alone in their journey.

During 2016 the couple became connected with a support group for mesothelioma sufferers and their families through the Reflections Through Reality Foundation. The foundation’s Operations Manager, Jo Morris, approached Michael Mclean, Executive Director of Master Builders and Ambassador to the Foundation, and explained the Rafferty family’s situation.

Without hesitation Master Builders, along with its President Rob Spadaccini from Spadaccini Homes, offered their support. Suppliers and trades are coming forward to provide what they can toward the project but WE URGENTLY NEED CASH to help cover unavoidable overheads. Some of the materials and trades will require funding and we urge you to help if you are in a position to do so.

Donations can be made via this link and all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Thank you for being part of this exciting project.

Rafferty Family Project – Bec and her boys (centre), Peter with their youngest son (bottom right)

Reducing the Impact of Asbestos

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