THOUGH they may not have quite reached the dizzy heights of a Gold Plate Award, the setting was certainly appropriate when Pilbara TAFE Hospitality Course trainees displayed their skills at the Perth Mint to promote “Gold Week” in April. Newcrest responded positively to an invitation to participate in the Mint’s promotion, arranging a barbecue “Cook Up” that was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors during the event.

Pilbara TAFE Hospitality Lecturer Janelle Cockayne provided the expertise while two outstanding students from last semester’s Newcrest-sponsored Hospitality Course at South Hedland TAFE, Christopher Toby and Stuart Ingie, prepared a veritable foodfest for visitors. Both Chris and Stuart are members of the Aboriginal Martu people. Stuart’s first taste of working with Newcrest came during a two-month period last year when he was employed with other Indigenous men as a monitor to help protect Aboriginal heritage during the laying of the Port Hedland-to-Telfer gas pipeline.

The culinary delights included skewers of kangaroo, emu, crocodile, barramundi, and damper provided by Noongar community member, Janet Collard. Newcrest’s Community Relations officers were present to chat to visitors about Newcrest’s mining operations and its relationships with, and strong commitment to, Aboriginal people in its areas of interest. Chris, Stuart and Janelle were excellent ambassadors for the Martu people, Pilbara TAFE, and Newcrest.