Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia Inc.
Incorporated in 2005
NEWS LETTER
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APRIL – MAY 2016
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It seems like only last week I was beginning to write the last newsletter. The year is slipping by so very fast.
At least it was not a very hot summer for those that suffer so much in the heat. If only winter was going to be
not too cold. Easter is now past and exciting times are ahead for ADSSA and our readers.
STAR ACT AT CABARET! Do not miss out!!!!
In the last newsletter I wrote about our “Always Look on the Bright Side” Cabaret. Well now the time is getting
closer so I hope that you have made your booking so you can come along and have a wonderful old fashioned
evening attending the Cabaret.
There has been some wonderful news about this night. I can now announce that we will be honoured to
have as a star singer for the night, GILL HICKS ! Our own Australian, Gill, made world headlines when she
was involved in those terrible London bombings. Thank God Gill was a survivor and now has become an
inspiration to all for what she has done since that time. Gill sang locally with a Jazz Quartet in the 1990’s
before moving to London to further her career. Since losing both legs Gill had several things that she needed to
accomplish. One of those is singing on stage again. Now you will have the chance to meet with her.
Gill will spearhead a strong line-up of performers of the best of Adelaide’s thriving Musical Theatre Fraternity,
whilst the Adelaide cover band, the Fabulous Rezonators, will complete the night’s entertainment. Award
winning director / producer / musical theatre and cabaret performer, Mr David Gauchi will be Master of
Ceremonies for the evening. ALL of the band and cast members are performing FREE for ADSSA.
The scrumptious 3 course dinner would cost you much more than the small cost of $52 a head at a restaurant
so it is a value packed night. Raffles will be held during the evening. This is a Fund Raiser for ADSSA so
please make your booking today before it sells out. Phone Theatre Tix on 0438 627 713. Generous discounts
for table of 10 or more.
With tougher economic times ADSSA is finding it much harder to obtain funding to continue our Asbestos
Awareness Project in all South Australian Trade Schools. We truly need these kids to become Asbestos
Aware before they come across asbestos in their work places. Our program is the first of its kind to be run in
Australia, possibly the whole world. One of the ways we are trying to raise funds for the program is to sell
People Choice Community Art Union lottery tickets. These tickets are just $2 each and ALL of the sales we
make the money goes directly to ADSSA whilst you have the chance to win great prizes. Please look at the
Cabaret-Lottery flyer that comes with this Newsletter. One page will tell you about the lottery, the other about
the wonderful Cabaret. If you can spare the time to sell a few raffle tickets to your friends for ADSSA then
please contact Ian who will deliver them to you.
HELP US TO HELP YOU AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST & OF COURSE ALWAYS WILL
Support both the Cabaret and the Raffle and we will all be winners
Another way you can help support ADSSA is to become a volunteer. At present we are trying to find a person
who can help out with some office administration for a few hours a week.
We also seek someone that is willing to visit the hospitals and similar places ensuring that ADSSA brochures
are always available for the vital times when a person is first diagnosed with an Asbestos Related Disease and
they need our help as soon as we can get to them. Or, maybe one of our disabled clients needs to do some
shopping or visit a doctor etc. If we had a suitable volunteer or volunteers to help them it would be great.
Of course ADSSA will pay for your vehicle costs and any other out of pocket expenses if you volunteer to do
these things. If you wish to discuss then please call Ian on 8241 7297 at any time. (24/7 is ok with me.)
BREAKING NEWS
I have been lobbying the Asbestos Safety & Eradication Agency to hold the 2016 International Asbestos
Conference in Adelaide, not Sydney. Three members of ASEA have visited the Adelaide Convention Centre
and have agreed that the 2016 International Asbestos Management Conference will be held in Adelaide on the
14th & 15th of November. Great news for Adelaide. More in next newsletter
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
Each year, on 28th April, services are held world-wide to comemerate those that have died through an industrial
death. The VOID organisation will hold the Service at the Pilgrim Church, Flinders Street, Adelaide at 10:00am
on Thursday 28th April. If you are attending the Service and would wish to have a candle with your lost ones
name then please contact Ian or Penny prior to 14th April so your candle can be prepared and named.
PENNY’s NOTES TO YOU
Sometimes it is good to go back to basics and do some reading around a topic, even when you think you are familiar with
a particular, subject matter. Today as I sit here at my lap-top at home, my mind is cast back to 3 clients ( 92, 80 and 66
years) I have visited in the past 3 weeks who all have a diagnosis of asbestosis. They are all at different stages in the
trajectory of their illness. We hear a lot about mesothelioma, but today I want to focus on asbestosis.

Surprisingly, the 92 year old man is the least symptomatic out of these clients! He has had his diagnosis of
asbestosis for many years. Hello Fred!! He still makes me a cuppa when I visit him, and his lovely wife Laurel. This
couple have brilliant family support; they always have visitors, and they never complain about anything.

The 80 year man has had a more recent diagnosis, is very short of breath on exertion, and has lost a lot of weight.
He talked about how exhausted he is after having a shower. He and his wife are working out how they can still go
to watch their beloved Port Power this season, with his shortness of breath and fatigue. He underplays his condition,
which is worrying his wife- yet another display of stoicism in this cohort.

Only 2 days ago I met a 66 year gentleman who was diagnosed over 1.5 years ago with asbestosis and is on home
oxygen. He is highly symptomatic and acknowledges the severity of his condition. That said, he is a colourful
character with a determined spirit, and does not suffer fools gladly. He described his lungs as “stuffed”! He rated his
quality of life) as “4/10”.
Asbestosis is a chronic, lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres. Prolonged exposure to these fibres can cause
lung tissue scarring and shortness of breath. Asbestosis symptoms can range from mild to severe, and usually don’t
appear until many years after continued exposure.
The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don’t show up for 10 to 40 years after initial exposure. Asbestosis
signs and symptoms can include:
 Shortness of breath
 A persistent, dry cough
 Loss of appetite with weight loss
 Fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than normal (clubbing)
 Chest tightness
If you are exposed to high levels of asbestos dust over a long period of time, some of the airborne fibres can become
lodged within your alveoli — the tiny sacs inside your lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in your blood.
The asbestos fibres irritate and scar lung tissue, causing the lungs to become stiff. This makes it difficult to breathe.
As asbestosis progresses, more and more lung tissue becomes scarred. Eventually, your lung tissue becomes so stiff that
it can’t contract and expand normally.
There’s no treatment to reverse the effects of asbestos on the alveoli. Treatment focuses on slowing the progression of
the disease and relieving symptoms.
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“The Victim is our Priority”
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7 Ninth Street
Phone (08) 8241 7297 Freecall 1800 157 540 email [email protected]
BOWDEN SA 5007
Mobile 0403 914663
(Uniting Care Wesley Complex)
All Contacts 24hrs – 7 Days
Website www.adssa-inc.com.au
President - Ian Sheppard 0413 914 663 Social Worker – Penny Jacomos 0412 701 630
ADSSA SUPPORTERS: