A family who lost their son in an industrial accident will not rest until a memorial garden designed to honour all lives lost at work is finally completed.
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Guy Hudson and his wife lost their son Matthew in an industrial incident at Killafaddy Meatworks in 2004 and have made it their life's mission to ensure all families who deal with such tragedy have a place to call their own.
The Launceston Workers Memorial Garden was officially opened in 2011, and it was the first of its kind in Australia, but Mr Hudson said the vision of what the garden could be and what it does not match up.
"We have had designs done up from an architect from the beginning, what we originally wanted was to have a path through the gardens with educational signs," he said.
The entryway to the gardens was complete, but the full vision of what it could be was never realised.
The cause has also been taken up by Unions Tasmania, who is assisting Mr Hudson in seeking federal funding to finish the project - at a total value of $300,000.
Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said they had made submissions for the last two or three state budgets but had so far been unsuccessful in seeking funding.
"This project needs to be funded," she said.
"It's ready to go, we have the plans ready to go and have done all of the hard work."
Ms Munday said workplace health and safety was a subject that neither political party wanted to talk about because it was a difficult and emotional one.
She believes this project has slipped through the budget and election cycle cracks for both major political parties.
Mr Hudson said that he had met with people from all levels of government seeking funding, and while he had got some verbal commitments, nothing concrete had ever eventuated.
However, he said conversations with federal Bass Labor candidate Ross Hart had proven positive.
"We have had some commitments from Labor in the past to fund the park if they get elected, but they haven't been in the chair," he said.
Mr Hudson said it wasn't just about Matthew anymore, but for all families of those killed at work - the park was somewhere central they could come and reflect.
However, it was also an educational tool to educate the next generation about the importance of workplace health and safety.
Bass MHR Bridget Archer said she'd personally met with Mr Hudson many times regarding the gardens and could understand his passion.
"I have had numerous conversations with a larger number of stakeholders across northern Tasmania seeking funding for their worthwhile projects and any election commitment announcements will be made in due course," she said.
State Workplace Safety Minister Elise Archer said she was sympathetic to Mr Hudson's request.
"I would suggest that he forwards the state government an update on his proposal, and also that he reaches out to both sides of federal politics for a commitment given the upcoming election," she said.
City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the council was proud to have played a role in establishing the gardens.
"As a memorial garden, the park is designed as a place for contemplation and reflection, and as a commemoration to those who have died or who have been injured at work," he said.
"The expansion of the park is not currently a priority project for the City of Launceston. The council is aware of Unions Tasmania's efforts to seek funding from other tiers of government to allow a considered and sensitively designed upgrade to occur, and we look forward to further engagement if funding is secured."
Mr Hudson said he was frustrated that governments had not yet funded the proposal and said he could not understand why there appeared to be a lack of support for the memorial.
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