Catherine Ellen Martin
Encyclopedia
Catherine Martin was a journalist
for The West Australian
newspaper from 1957, specialising in medical reporting. She was born in the United Kingdom
but emigrated to Western Australia
and lived there for most of her life.
In 1978 she began investigating the high incidence of death and disease among workers at the Australian Blue Asbestos
mine at Wittenoom Gorge (see Wittenoom, Western Australia
). Martin was able to access a study by Professor Michael Hobbs, a University of Western Australia
epidemiologist, of the mine workers and their families. This study found a high incidence of illness and death from asbestos-related diseases among the small number of workers in the sample.
Between 1947 and 1967 when the mine was closed more than 6500 people had been employed at Wittenoom. Nearly half the workers had been European migrants, some of whom had returned to their homelands.
In 1978 the effects of pleural abnormalities and other asbestos
-related diseases were beginning to show up in the former mine workers. Martin's front-page story for The West Australian won a Walkley
award and she produced a series of another nine articles highlighting the impact on workers and their families.
Martin was made a Member of the Order of Australia
on 12 June 1982 for services to journalism. She had won numerous awards for journalism including the Walkley four times, the Arthur Lovekin five times and a number of Australian Medical Association
awards. Martin also received the inaugural Gold Walkley.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
newspaper from 1957, specialising in medical reporting. She was born in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
but emigrated to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and lived there for most of her life.
In 1978 she began investigating the high incidence of death and disease among workers at the Australian Blue Asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
mine at Wittenoom Gorge (see Wittenoom, Western Australia
Wittenoom, Western Australia
Wittenoom is a ghost town located 1,106 kilometres north-northeast of Perth in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is the site of Australia's greatest industrial disaster....
). Martin was able to access a study by Professor Michael Hobbs, a University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
epidemiologist, of the mine workers and their families. This study found a high incidence of illness and death from asbestos-related diseases among the small number of workers in the sample.
Between 1947 and 1967 when the mine was closed more than 6500 people had been employed at Wittenoom. Nearly half the workers had been European migrants, some of whom had returned to their homelands.
In 1978 the effects of pleural abnormalities and other asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
-related diseases were beginning to show up in the former mine workers. Martin's front-page story for The West Australian won a Walkley
Walkley
Walkley is an electoral ward in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.Walkley ward—which includes the districts of Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe, Walkley and parts of Neepsend—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the northwestern part of the city...
award and she produced a series of another nine articles highlighting the impact on workers and their families.
Martin was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
on 12 June 1982 for services to journalism. She had won numerous awards for journalism including the Walkley four times, the Arthur Lovekin five times and a number of Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
awards. Martin also received the inaugural Gold Walkley.
External links
- Martin's entry in the Australian Women’s Archives Project
- Article in The Age (6 Dec 2004) referring to Martin's work
- Walkley Awards
- Obituary in The West AustralianThe West AustralianThe West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
- Obituary in The Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning HeraldThe Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...