His grandfathers were miners. So too his three uncles and four cousins.

He followed his father into the business, and now, his son works "down the pits" too.

It is this long-held affiliation with life underground, and the dangers that accompany such a job, that spurred Mr Potter into action five years ago when he saw the shabby state of the 1890-erected monument dedicated to the Bulli Mine Disaster three years earlier.

Mr Potter took to caring for the Park Road monument, voluntarily cutting the grass around the edges once a month and digging out the weeds creeping up inside the wrought iron fence.

But what he really wants to see is the obelisk given a facelift.

"It's in dire need of restoration," the Towradgi retiree said.

"I don't think anything much has been done to it since it first was erected.

Mr Potter said he was initially unsure who was responsible for the monument, but after a little digging believes it is on State Rail-owned land.

He said that Wollongong City Council had responded positively when he approached it about the site, however, said it required approval from the land owners before anything could be arranged.

Mr Potter is waiting to hear back from State Rail.

In the meantime, he has enlisted Keira MP Ryan Park to help him in his cause.

Mr Potter admitted restoring the monument could be a big job, but said it was one that should be done to honour the memories of the 81 men and boys who died in the March 23 explosion.

"I think we have to do it because it's part of our history," he said.