Camden High School cancer link class action stalled until delayed report is released
SIX years since a class action was first mooted, the families of more than 300 former Camden High School students and teachers remain waiting for answers.
Macarthur
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SIX years since a class action was first mooted, the families of more than 300 former Camden High School students and teachers remain waiting for answers.
The memories of victims who battled and succumbed to a range of health concerns continue to search for accountability against the Department of Education.
Rodney Curry, who initiated the class action in 2012 after his wife Leonie died of brain cancer, said an outcome would help bring closure.
“It (the class action) doesn’t bring people back but it may help some people get through,” he said.
“You always want someone to answer. I am sure no one did it deliberately but we all have debts out of it. Leonie didn’t work for three to four years and I didn’t work at points.”
A Public Works and Services Department report from 1997 confirmed the former Camden High School site, built on top of an old gasworks, had been contaminated by carcinogens.
IN RELATED NEWS
Marsdens Law Group is leading the class action and told the Macarthur Chronicle in February they expected a report in March which would potentially allow the law firm to launch court proceedings.
The report, which is investigating the chemicals found at the former school site and their likely exposure to students and teachers, is critical to the success of the class action.
Partner Joe Bonura said there has been a delay in receiving the report, which isn’t unusual in such a complex matter.
“We haven’t received it (the report) yet but we expect it to arrive in the next number of weeks,” he said.
“We expect to be in a position to update our potential claimants sometime in June.
“We will need a little time to digest what could be a significant, lengthy report and discuss with our partners here and make a determination about going forward.”
Camden High School relocated to Cawdor in 2001.
IN RELATED NEWS
AEH Retirement Living has undertaken remediation and demolition work in recent months at the site.
The first stage of a retirement village is planned to open by the end of the year.
Company chief operating officer Michael Rabey previously told the Macarthur Chronicle the development willbreathe new life into the town centre.
“I think it is one of the missing pieces in the town centre,” he said.
“We will breathe new life into Camden, talking away old concerns of the site.”