Plaque anchors navy cancer victims’ fight

A memorial plaque and symbolic anchor were installed at Amblin Holiday Park last month in honour of the hundreds of navy personnel who have lost their battle with cancer.

The tribute was headed by Paul Fernyhough, founder of Busselton-born Australia-wide foundation Shipmates For Cancer, and was installed on November 13.

The plaque reads: “In memory of our shipmates and their families who have passed away from the effects of cancer. You are never forgotten and those who are left are not alone. Fair winds.”

Mr Fernyhough said the harrowing health statistics for veterans, particularly navy personnel who had served in Vietnam, provided the motivation he needed to spring into action.

Recent studies show mortality rates among veterans are 7 per cent higher than the general population in relevant age groups, and found veterans were 30 per cent more likely to develop prostrate and lung cancer.

Mr Fernyhough said Vietnam veterans were particularly vulnerable to cancer because their drinking water had contained the defoliant Agent Orange.

He said navy veterans were at even higher risk because of warship technology and proximity to water.

“Studies show that soldiers who served in Vietnam have a 30 per cent greater risk of getting cancer, then the navy has an additional 30 per cent risk,” he said.

“We lose an average of one to two every week. We carry the names of 360 of our shipmates who had passed from various cancers in the past 10 years.”

Shipmates For Cancer has 779 members. In 2014, a team of nine serving and former navy personnel rode in Ride for a Cure, a 220km bike ride over two days, raising $26,000 for cancer research.

“We will continue to raise funds for cancer research focusing on brain cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer, skin cancer, asbestosis and prostate cancer that takes so many of our shipmates and their family,” Mr Fernyhough said. For more information, visit shipmatesforcancer.com.