By JOLENE OGLE
RUGBY league legend Trevor Gillmeister dropped into Cricks Noosa last week on his way from Townsville to Brisbane to help raise awareness and funds for asbestos-related diseases.
The 50-year-old set off from Townsville over a month ago to tackle the 1300-kilometre trek, joined along the way by friends and family.
Trevor, his wife Sandra and daughter Lauren, along with a team of support walkers, arrived at Cricks Noosa with “a spring in their step” after walking 64 kilometres, to sign footballs for fans and enjoy a much-deserved break.
The Walk for Awareness is in aid of people who suffer from asbestos-related diseases such as pleural disease, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, and is an issue close to the Gillmeister family with Sandra’s mum dying from and Trevor’s dad affected by asbestos-related diseases.
Trevor said it was time to bring the diseases out from “under the rug” and shine a light on those who “suffer in silence”.
“We’ve been blown away by the number of people who have come to us and said their uncle, or aunty, grandparents, husband or wife are affected,” he said.
“A lot of people think it is predominately males who get it, but it’s not.”
According to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia and the UK have the highest rates of asbestos-related deaths in the world.
NHMRC states this is due to the amount of asbestos used in buildings throughout the countries, as well as the high usage of the most dangerous types, blue and brown.
The statistics show that since records began in the early 1980s, there have been at least 4700 deaths from mesothelioma, a fast-spreading cancer of the pleura with an average survival time of 6-18 months, with 25,000 Australians expected to die from asbestos-related diseases over the next 40 years.
Trevor said it was clear from the people he’d met along his walk that a great many people suffered with asbestos-related diseases throughout Queensland alone, and he was concerned reality TV shows about home renovations would lead to an increase in deaths.
“We need to get the message out there a lot more. Especially with reality TV shows with home renovation, we need to make sure people are aware of asbestos and get things checked out before they start renovating,” he said.
“Otherwise, there will be a big spike in 10-20 years’ time. We have a lot more to do yet, in spreading the message.”
Trevor has four more days of walking until he reaches Brisbane, and will have his daughter, sister and wife by his side for the final leg.
To date, Trevor’s Walk for Awareness has raised over $59,000 with Cricks Noosa Jeep boosting the fund raising with a $1000 donation, last week.
To donate to the Walk for Awareness, visit www.everydayhero.com.au/walkforawareness.
