Eden memorial reminder of need for vigilance
From the Spring 2008 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
A new memorial for fallen timber workers has been unveiled in the far south coast town of Eden. Photo by Rob Young
The timber workers’ memorial at Eden should remind the industry to continually improve its safety focus to ensure no more names are added to it, Forests NSW southern region manager, Ian Barnes, said at its official unveiling.
Ian was one of six speakers who addressed a crowd of more than 400 people attending the opening in June.
“We know the timber industry is inherently dangerous,” Ian said. “It is a natural environment, and those who fell the trees are entrusted with the task of bringing something weighing between 10 and 50 tonnes to the ground, hour after hour, day after day.
“That alone carries big risks, but there are others as well.
“This memorial stands for three things: one is a reminder of those risks; another is a place for those who have lost either family or work mates to grieve for those who, on the one occasion, did not return home; and finally, serve as a record of who has been lost.
“We must continually improve our training, our equipment and our work systems so that we do not add one more name to the wall.”
Forests NSW contributed $5000 to the construction.
The memorial, which stands in a park on the corner of the Princes Highway and Maling Street, is comprised of a curved brick wall containing memorial plaques to many of those who have died in the industry, a bronze casting of a timber worker helping his fallen mate, and a construction of wooden frames.
Howard Spencer, Public Affairs & Media, Coffs Harbour
