Workers' Memorial Site Opens

IN THE EXAMINER TODAY
Memorial site pays tribute to workers
20 Jun, 2011 12:00 AM

"AND when the phone rang I just knew." This is just one of the phrases featured at the Tasmanian Workers' Memorial Park in Elizabeth Gardens, next to Aurora Stadium, unveiled on Saturday.

Those words ring true for the mother and sister of Scott Sharpe, who died last August doing the job he loved, working as an arborist.

Christine Sharpe and her daughter Jodie Ombao attended the official opening of the park and said it was a wonderful tribute to all those killed at work.

"It's a really good thing," Mrs Sharpe said.

"They all mean something to us and it's a nice place to come and sit." ... click here to go to The Examiner story

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

WorkCover's records for 2009 show that 9273 Tasmanians were injured while at work and 15 were killed. However, there are an as yet unknown number of workers killed in road accidents while at work and that are not considered workplace deaths.

The Project up to now has been managed by a community based committee, the Tasmanian Workers Commemorative Park Committee, made up of the following membership:

• Robert Groenewegen : Chairman
• Ian Pattie : Secretary
• Rex Neil
• Tim Thorne
• Lionel Morrell
• Guy Hudson
  
• Niall Simpson

with the support of numerous sponsors and supporters.

The site's design is the outcome of a collaboration between Launceston City Council's landscape architect, Niall Simpson and Launceston poet Tim Thorne.

The site's opening coincided with the launch of the website www.commemoratingtasmanianworkers.com.au. It is hoped that in time the site in Elizabeth Gardens and the website will be of some help to those family, friends and workmates left behind after a fatal workplace accident.

The next phase of the project is to realise the casting in bronze of the enigmatic symbol of a past presence a pair of work boots.CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE