Australian Pesticides Map

Helen Alchin worked as a typist/receptionist with the NSW Department of Agriculture at Yass. Her duties included receiving, storing and recording the stocks of banned organochlorine pesticides that had been recalled during the ‘beef-export’ crisis of 1987.

‘The men in the office were more often out in the field which meant I had to take delivery of the banned chemicals – some of the containers were very old – the smell of chemicals in the shed was very strong’.

Helen worked in the office from August 1987 to January 1988 when she left to have a baby. In April 1988, her daughter was delivered stillborn two weeks before she was due. Helen had previously delivered two healthy boys and has subsequently had a healthy son. p57 Quick Poison Slow Poison. Pesticide Risk in the Lucky Country. Kate Short 1994.

1987 August – 1988 January: Yass Department of Agriculture: Organochlorines

*** worked as a typist/receptionist with the NSW Department of Agriculture at Yass. Her duties included receiving, storing and recording the stocks of banned organochlorine pesticides that had been recalled during the ‘beef-export’ crisis of 1987.

‘The men in the office were more often out in the field which meant I had to take delivery of the banned chemicals – some of the containers were very old – the smell of chemicals in the shed was very strong’.

Helen worked in the office from August 1987 to January 1988 when she left to have a baby. In April 1988, her daughter was delivered stillborn two weeks before she was due. Helen had previously delivered two healthy boys and has subsequently had a healthy son. p57 Quick Poison Slow Poison. Pesticide Risk in the Lucky Country. Kate Short 1994.