I was asked by a very good friend and a very prominent advocate to research the possibility of the fresh water tanks being cleaned onboard HMAS Sydney between May '69 and November '69 whilst the ship was in for a refit. There were many answers that I received from my enquiries but the "tanky" onboard at the time believes that maybe 2 of the tanks were cleaned but certainly not all 4 tanks.

The reason for this research is because there is a an ex-sailor Veteran who is suffering from Parkinson's Disease who is presently at the Veterans Review Board which has adjourned the case so this research can be undertaken. 

The DVA held a meeting to investigate whether health problems affecting the personnel who served onboard HMAS SYDNEY and The Escorts could be connected with toxins directly digested into their bodies through the food and water supplies.

The mortality rate amongst all veterans is 1.07% which means it’s 7% higher than the general population in the relevant age groups.

The study was carried out by the National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology and the Queensland Health Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

It was found that Prostrate Cancer (1.53% or 53% higher than the average) and Lung Cancer (1.29% or 29% higher than the average) are the main points and concern dioxins have been directly linked to these diseases.

The breakdown amongst the services became even more surprising:

ARMY        1.00% considering their supposed fitness level it should have been 0.94%

RAAF         1.12% 12% above average

RAN  1.37% 37% above the average

So the navy became the main focus most of concern then the breakdown in areas of service in South Vietnam incurred to some extent more surprises:

• Clearance Drivers                 1.76%                   76% higher than average
• SYDNEY & ESCORTS               1.45%                   45%   “        “        “
• Gun line                        1.23%                   23%   “        “        “
• RAN Helo-Flight            1.20%                   20%   “        “        “
• Other RAN                               .35%                   65% lower than expected

Below is a diagram of the typical evaporator onboard the Navy ships in the 60's and 70's. The research found that the water taken into the evaporators from the river at Vietnam whilst the ship's were at anchor was indeed toxic and the principal reason being that the water when boiled would let go of the toxins which then fixed themselves in the tank (F) on the diagram which resulted in new water being contaminated when it was boiled by the presence of the toxins in tank (F). The report is attached.

       6. The factor that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism or death from Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service is:

(a)      For Parkinson's disease only:

(I) inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with an organ chlorine insecticide, a deistical-based fungicide or the

herbicide paraquat, on at least 500 occasions within a continuous period of five yea r, before the clinical onset of Parkinson’s disease ; or

        (b)      For parkinsonism only:
                  (I)    inhaling, ingesting or having cutaneous contact with an organ chlorine insecticide, a dithiocarbamate-based fungicide or the

                       herbicide paraquat, on at least 500 occasions within a continuous period of five years, within the ten years before the clinical

                       onset of parkinsonism; or

               The question which begs to be asked is who determines how many occasions the sailor came in contact with this crap. As I have indicated the studies that were undertaken could not determine the toxicity of the water consumed nor the amount a sailor may take in. We are looking at all drinking water, the cloths were washed using this contaminated water, the cooks used this water in meal preparation and the list goes on. What does the RMA do, they leave the decision making to the DVA assessor and when they get it wrong we are off to the VRB and if they get it wrong we are off to the AAT and I believe finally this will be resolved by the High Court.

What about that other SoP for Prostate Problems. Here we see the SoP's indicating: -

5. The factor that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting malignant neoplasm of the prostate or death from malignant neoplasm of the prostate with the circumstances of a person’s relevant service is:

Cheers

Harry Kirkman

Level 4 Advocate (TIP-DVA)

PO Box 285 Mount Druitt 2770

Phone/Fax #  (02) 9832 4898

Mobile # 0405 358 248 

Email Address bighasa1@optusnet.com.au