They are Newcrest’s Community Relations’ right-hand men. Emergency Services Coordinators Andy French (left) and Darren Begley are right-at-hand as back-up support when the Community Relations team of Leon van Erp, Kevin Fred and Colin Tincknell are away from the Telfer mine site attending community meetings, supporting events or preparing training programs. Andy and Darren, who are co-located with the CR team in offices adjacent to Telfer’s airport terminal, respond to requests for assistance when their colleagues are off-site.

“We have assisted travellers and community members who have needed urgent medical attention, or who were having mechanical problems with their vehicles,” said Andy. “It’s all just part of the service.” “It’s a big country out here, and sometimes things don’t go according to plan,” said Darren. “Everyone at Telfer is a member of a team, and we’ll always help where and when we can.” Andy and Darren spend most of their time at Telfer training employees in safe work practices on site, conducting fire and emergency safety drills involving volunteers and, of course, attending to urgent and, thankfully, rare calls for help.