News

Spring is in the air and the pace has quickened at ADRI! Our team has been busy collaborating in Canberra and Melbourne, paving the way for future support. The team is expanding; and our projects are progressing. We continue to build awareness with our community and supporters. And we are working hard to secure future funding to advance our work. We are looking forward to another busy few months ahead!

Meet Kate Butler, Nurse Education and Resourcing Project Officer

ADRI has long had a vision to provide a nurses education package focused on Mesothelioma as there is currently little education specifically for nurses on this disease. As part of a successful support grant, ADRI will now develop a comprehensive one-stop resource tool for nurses. The education package will progress down a timeline from pre-diagnosis, diagnosis, treatment – to end of life. To bring this ambitious project to life requires a very special person – and ADRI was thrilled to welcome Kate Butler to the team.

Kate Butler

Kate is a Registered Nurse with a background in Intensive Care nursing, most recently with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. With a passion for education and a personal connection – her grandfather had mesothelioma – Kate was excited about the opportunity to understand more about this disease and to help others. The Nurse Education and Resource Package that she is developing will focus on educating nurses on mesothelioma, the crucial role nurses play in caring for the patients; and to increase awareness of ADRI’s wonderful support service.

As Kate says,

“I was ready for a new challenge and have always been interested in the education side of nursing. I am excited about this opportunity to build an education package that ensures nurses are informed about mesothelioma and can use their knowledge to provide the best care for those patients. I am looking forward to meeting all our patients and carers!”

Collaboration in Canberra

The ADRI team spent a very productive few days of collaboration, discussion and planning in Canberra at the end of September. Chair Peter Tighe, CEO Kim Brislane, Research Director A/Professor Sonja Klebe met with various Ministers to discuss the ongoing impact that asbestos and dust-related diseases have on Australians, the work that ADRI does – to find a cure for these diseases and to support patient and families impacted – and the need for increased and ongoing funding to enable these activities.

We are grateful to the following Ministers and MPs for their time and support:

• The Hon. Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health
• Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health
• The Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Minister for The Environment and Water
• The Hon. Tony Burke MP and his team
• Russell Broadbent MP, Chair of PGARD
• Sally Sitou MP, Member for Reid
• Tony Zappia MP
• Matt Burnell MP

ADRI Reception at Admiralty House, hosted by Their Excellencies the Governor-General of Australia and Mrs Linda Hurley

Thank you to ADRI Patrons Their Excellencies The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd.) and Mrs Hurley, for hosting an intimate reception at Admiralty House on Wednesday, 5 October. The Governor-General’s warm welcome address referenced his role within the Australian Defence Force to eradicate asbestos from all ADF premises between 2009 – 2011; and hence his strong commitment to ADRI. Mrs Hurley performed a song she had written to support our cause that was much appreciated by the guests. It was a wonderful way to bring our team, supporters and patients together – to celebrate our joint efforts – and we very much appreciate Their Excellencies’ patronage, hospitality and support.

Kicking more goals for Asbestos Research in 2022/23

We are delighted to announce that the Western Sydney Wanderers (WSW) and Turner Freeman Lawyers have recommitted to giving back to ADRI for every goal scored during the 2022/23 A-League Football Season. Turner Freeman will again donate $500 for every goal scored by the team. This support goes directly to our labs to enable us to advance our Research – and achieve our goal to save lives.

Turner Freeman Lawyers Managing Partner and newly appointed Asbestos Diseases Research Foundation Board Director, Armando Gardiman AM said he was proud to give back to the community through the Wanderers.

“With ADRI being the only dedicated research facility in Australia that studies and researches asbestos diseases, including the terminal cancer mesothelioma, we are proud to be able to show our support for ADRI in conjunction with our partners, Western Sydney Wanderers.”

We very much appreciate this support and wish the WSW a very successful season. We will be cheering on every goal! Read more

Revesby Workers’ Club – 60 years young

Congratulations to Revesby Workers’ Club, celebrating their 60th year with a special Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 10 September. With many of their members and local community impacted by asbestos-related diseases, the Revesby Workers’ Club has been committed to supporting ADRI’s work in trying to pursue treatments and ultimately a cure.

Dr Ben Johnson and partner attended the event on behalf of ADRI and very much enjoyed hearing about the club’s history over the past 60 years, as detailed by Club President Mr Darlyn Melham on the night.

Thank you to Revesby Workers’ Club for your continued and invaluable support.

Event reminder: Carers Day Lunch, Friday 21st October 2022

In thanks and acknowledgment, ADRI is delighted to invite all carers – past and present – to our Mesothelioma Support Service Carers Day Lunch. We will enjoy the uplifting power of music with our special guest Mark Fleming, a Registered Music Therapist.

There is no cost to attend and we encourage you to bring a friend along with you. We hope you can join us!

Some of our inspirational patients!

There is no doubt that asbestos-related diseases have a devastating impact on patients and carers. However, with the right treatment and support, many of our patients are enjoying life to the full. Even if some may be functioning with only one lung! We love when our patients and carers send us photos like these.