By ALESHA CAPONE
FORMER RAAF members who were exposed to toxic chemicals at Point Cook and Laverton have called for an investigation.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, waste products collected from Melbourne’s petrochemical factories were used to start fires during training at the two RAAF bases.
The news comes after the CFA last week admitted firefighters were exposed to hazardous chemicals at its Fiskville training site, where a suspected cancer cluster is located.
Former RAAF senior firefighting instructor – and bowel cancer survivor – Pat Mildren was based in Point Cook during 1958 and the 1970s.
He said chemicals not required for training at Point Cook were taken to Fiskville.
Mr Mildren is calling for an inquiry into the issue and for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to offer better access to support and compensation.
Mr Mildren estimated around 45 former RAAF members have died after being exposed to the chemicals.
“We’ve got cancer of every kind, leukaemia, pituitary gland, throat, oesophagus, bowel, bladder, brain and skin cancers,” he said.
Three Werribee residents and former RAAF servicemen – Cecil Boyter, Malcolm Marsland-Relsey and Graham West – told Star they were exposed to toxic chemicals in Fiskville, Point Cook and Laverton.
“I lost 90 per cent of my bowel five, six years ago. The doctors couldn’t say if it was cancer or not,” Mr Mildren said.
“I believe it was caused by the chemicals we were mucking about in, I sincerely believe that.”
Mr Boyter has two spots on his lung, which doctors have judged too small to investigate, and had a vein taken out of his leg and a plastic pipe inserted.
He has been told he must provide two medical reports at a cost of $1000 to back his request for support, while Mr Boyter was turned down.
“I just want my medicals covered, not millions of dollars,” Mr West said.
“There’s lots of ex-fireys from Werribee and Laverton who have got health problems, but they don’t want to come forward because they don’t believe their problems will be recognised.”
A DVA spokesperson said the department was “looking at the claims raised by Mr Mildren and whether additional support needs to be provided – to ensure any affected firefighters receive compensation they are entitled to”.
