ANCAPS Good News: OZschwitz statist whines: Toxic job ruined my life

Behind the parliamentary inquiries and legal action concerning sick F-111 maintenance workers, there are real stories of heartbreak, devastation and despair.

Ipswich man Peter Grayson, 49, this morning speculated on what his life could have been had he not spent 24 years in service at the RAAF, coming into contact with the chemical used to fix leaking fuel tanks on the aircraft at Amberley Air Base, west of Brisbane, between 1973 and 2000.

"I think about how much better my life could have been - not only financially but more importantly, emotionally. My marriage was ruined as a direct result of this," Mr Grayson said.

Mr Grayson suffers from a range of psychological problems, including depression and anxiety.

"I also suffer from physical problems: rashes on my bottom,on other places on my body which I don't really want to mention and - even worse - erectile dysfunction,"

"The effects of all of this on my life are countless. Because of all my problems, my wife ended up leaving me in 1999. All of this could have been avoided had I not had the contact with the F-111s."

Alarmingly, the physical effects of the toxin were not exclusive to Mr Grayson. His two sons also suffer from the same rashes as their father, having come into contact with the poison when Mr Grayson's soiled overalls were put into the family washing machine with their clothes.

Mr Grayson remains brave despite the devastating effect his RAAF service has had on his life.

"This needs to be spoken out about it. I've been speaking out about this for a long time and I want to see something come of it."

Mr Grayson believes it was his decision to speak out over concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals involved in cleaning F-111s which brought his RAAF career to a grinding halt.

"I was a sergeant for 10 years. I should have been promoted to a warrant officer in that time but I was not, and I am sure it's because I spoke out against what was happening," he said.

"Had I just shut my mouth and looked the other way, I would have been promoted and then ended up with a much higher lump sum payment when I retired from the RAAF."

So far, Mr Grayson has not received any compensation in any form for the injuries he sustained and considered that "at least" $250,000 would be fair recompense for the medical expenses he has had, and will have, to pay.

Mr Grayson is one of 25 former RAAF workers being represented by Simon Harrison, partner at Brisbane law firm Herbert Geer, however there are believed to be up to 2000 claims from former workers suffering injuries.

LNK

ANCAPS Good News: OZschwitz statist whines: Toxic job ruined my life

ANCAPS Good News: OZschwitz statist whines: Toxic job ruined my life

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