International Workers’ Memorial Day has a profound and personal meaning for Guy Hudson.
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It’s a day he commemorates every year to reflect on the importance of workers’ safety and to pay respect to those that have tragically died on worksites across Australia.
Chiefly among them, his deceased son Matthew.
Matthew died in 2005 at the Blue Ribbon Meatworks after the forklift he was driving rolled over and crushed him.
On Saturday, Guy will remember his son at Launceston’s iteration of the international memorial day.
“A lot more work needs to be done on preventing deaths in the workplace,” he said.
“I stay out of it all, but I notice a lot more ads about workplace safety and awareness.”
The memorial will take place at the Tasmanian Workers' Memorial Park, in Elizabeth Gardens, adjacent to UTAS Stadium.
The park, a brainchild of Guy, was opened in 2011.
“We decided we needed something like this for loved ones who get killed on worksites every year,” he said.
“Nothing could be better than to have a beautiful park to remember our loved ones.”
Guy has urged the state government to help the fund an upgrade of the park, however he has been unable to obtain a meeting with Treasurer Peter Gutwein to discuss the project.
He flagged a total sum of $250,000 for the works.
Mr Gutwein said there were no plans to fund the project.
“While I have sympathy for Mr Hudson, our current priority is to fund all of our election commitments in full and on time,” he said.
“Should an application for funding be forthcoming, consideration will be given through the normal processes.”
Guy said he hoped people considered the efforts of industrial workers during Anzac Day on Wednesday.
“People need to remember on Anzac Day it was the workers who made all the tanks, all the gear, and the bullets for the army to fight,” he said.
“The workers are the most important people.
“Without the workers nothing would run.”
The memorial event at Tasmanian Workers' Memorial Park will take place at 8am on Saturday.