National Workers Memorial (Australia)

National Workers Memorial (Australia)

The National Workers Memorial in the national capital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, is Australia's place for honouring workers who have died as a result of work-related accidents, incidents and disease.

Purpose

In May 2011, the Government of Australia provided funding for the design and construction of a memorial "to honour and pay tribute to working Australians who have died as a result of work-related accidents, incidents and disease".^[1] The other stated purposes are:

• To serve "as a poignant reminder of the importance of work health and safety and the need for a determined and continued effort by all to prevent work-related accidents and disease. It is also a place to reflect on the evolving values, ideas and aspirations of the Australian community in relation to work health and safety."^[1]
• To provide "a place for visitors to lay a tribute for a loved one, a location to pause and reflect within earshot of the National Carillon’s bells, as well as allowing a space for congregation, interaction and ceremony."^[1]
• To provide "an important focal point for the national commemoration of Workers Memorial Day, recognised internationally on 28 April each year."^[1]

Workplace deaths amount to around 300 per year in Australia.^[2]

Site

The site in Canberra is within the sound of the bells of the National Carillon, in Kings Park, Canberra, beside Lake Burley Griffin. The other memorials nearby are:

• National Police Memorial
• HMAS Canberra (D33)

The memorial has been sanctioned by the National Capital Authority as the memorial is within the Parliamentary Triangle of Canberra.^[3][4]

Structure

The memorial consists of eight tall stone poles, symbolically sighted across a stylised map of Australia in the places of the state and territory capital cities. Architectural firm Johnson Pilton Walker^[5] has placed concentric circles around the poles with words representing the intended outcome of knowledge and application of good practices of work health and safety.

The lead-in path has two inscriptions along its edge, saying:

• every worker has the right to return home
• every workplace death diminishes us as a nation

Construction is reported to have cost A$3 million.^[2][6]

Inauguration ceremony

The inauguration ceremony was held on Sunday 28 April 2013.^[2]

• 

  National Workers Memorial (Australia) - National Carillon in background on Aspen Island

• 

  every worker has the right to return home

• 

  every workplace death diminishes us as a nation

• 

  plaque

See also

• National Workers Memorial - United States (Silver Spring, Maryland)

References

1. National Workers Memorial (official website), retrieved 2 June 2013
2. National memorial honours victims of workplace accidents, Siobhan Heanue, ABC News Online, 28 April 2013, retrieved 2 June 2013
3. National Workers Memorial officially opened, 2 May 2013, accessed 4 June 2013
4. National Workers Memorial, National Capital Authority, retrieved 4 June 2013
5. National Workers’ Memorial design winner announced, ArchitectureAU, 21 March 2012, retrieved 4 June 2013
6. Tears as memorial to workers opens, Megan Doherty, Canberra Times, 29 April 2013, retrieved 2 June 2013

External links

• National Workers Memorial official website (.gov.au)
• Johnson Pilton Walker - architects
  • Discussion of the design

Coordinates: 35°17′53″S 149°08′41″E / 35.2981°S 149.1448°E