The 405-member Telfer Social Club raised more than $24,000 over just six months for the RFDS. At the start of the campaign last July, Newcrest’s Executive General Manager, Project Development, Mr Bruce Price offered on behalf of Newcrest Mining Limited to match the Social Club’s fundraising appeal on a dollar-for-dollar basis. RFDS Chief Executive Mr Peter Howe visited the remote Telfer mine site, some 450km west of Port Hedland, to receive cheques totalling more than $44,000 on behalf of the RFDS at a special ceremony and celebration party held on January 31. However, an additional $12,000 was added to the RFDS funds during the evening celebrations when, in what must be a world record price paid for simple garments, $6,0000 was raised during an auction of three specially-monogrammed Telfer Social Club tee-shirts. Mr Price then announced that Newcrest would also match the figure.

The Social Club’s appeal coordinator, Ms Charlotte Crealey, said it was the first fundraising event the fledgling club, established in October 2002, had undertaken, and the result was an outstanding achievement. “We set a goal to raise $20,000 by December 31 2003 and we thought an Appeal would be a great platform to highlight the vital relationship that exists between Telfer Gold Mine and the RFDS,” Ms Crealey said. “With the theme ‘going for gold’, we enjoyed enormous support from all employees across the breadth of the Telfer Project. Many contractors also supported us with generous donations of funds and prizes. Everyone seemed to identify positively and readily with the need to support the RFDS.” Telfer Project Administration Manager Mr Craig Thompson said the success of the appeal, and the Company’s decision to match the contribution, reflected the importance of the RFDS. “The RFDS plays a vital and pivotal role in helping to save lives,” he said. “Their ability to continue to support remote communities such as ours must never be taken for granted.” Newcrest Executive General Manager, Project Development, Mr Bruce Price said the RFDS had provided its services to mine workers on a few occasions in the past, and had often used the airstrip at Telfer as a staging post to service other remote communities throughout the State’s vast north-west. “As a community of employees and contractors working on the Telfer Project, and as a Company, we have the utmost respect for the work of the RFDS in this region,” Mr Price said. “To put it simply, a major mining operation such as this relies heavily, though fortunately very rarely, on the emergency services available only through the Flying Doctor.”

Newcrest Mining Ltd last year committed to a $1.25 million contribution to the RFDS over five years to assist with upgrading its aircraft fleet. RFDS Chief Executive Mr Peter Howe welcomed news of the Telfer Social Club’s fundraising appeal success and Newcrest’s matching contribution. “We’re absolutely delighted with this generous combined donation,” he said. “These funds are very important in helping us maintain a viable and effective emergency service. We are, of course, here to help everyone in need, wherever they are located, but this contribution from the broad Telfer community is hugely encouraging to us, and is a very big boost in the overall scheme of our operations.”