Community support helps enrich broad social fabric.

Newcrest’s Community Relations portfolio stretches far and wide, from support of sports carnivals in the desert and footballgames featuring Indigenous players at Subiaco Oval in curtain-raiser clashes prior to the Western Derby, to horse races, artexhibitions, contributions to service organisations, and educational scholarships. On July 1, Marble Bar hosted its annual Cup Race Day, and Newcrest sponsored one of the feature races. A week later, Newcrest’s Community Relations team was extensively involved in sponsoring the region’s annual Indigenous sports carnival, normally held at Punmu, but hosted this year for the first time at Parnngurr. Leon explained the rationale behind Newcrest’s wide-spread sponsorship and promotional activities. “Newcrest is committed to assisting community groups in the region, where it can, because such support helps enrich the broad social fabric that exists within any group of people,” he said.

“The Company is keen to support and assist various communities, and groups within those communities. It is integral to our philosophy of being a socially-responsible organisation. “We want to contribute something tangible to those people living in areas adjacent to or near our operations. “We do that by investing our time, energy, expertise, and some funds into the
communities. “When we signed various agreements with Indigenous groups three years ago, we said we would provide support and opportunities for people to learn and train, with the goal of employing more Indigenous people to work at Telfer, or elsewhere in the region.

But, there’s more to life than just work, and support for a sports carnival or an art exhibiton is equally valid. “Successful communities are those that have received encouragement and support that has enabled them to offer a broad range of activities for their people. “Newcrest is a big Company, with responsibilities to its shareholders. “However, it has not lost sight of the need for, and positive results flowing from, giving support and encouragement to its neighbours,” Leon said.

Hedland Art Awards

Some 400 guests were on hand to view the North-West’s premier arts awards at the Courthouse Arts Centre and Gallery in Port Hedland on September 8.

Newcrest Community Relations Officer at Telfer, Colin Tincknell (right), presented a Company-sponsored $1500 award to Port Hedland artist Di Jackson (left) for her art piece Hirsute. Some of the proceeds raised during the evening will support funding a Home/Shelter for pregnant teenage girls in the Pilbara Region. The awards function offered something for everyone, including belly dancers, music, live video on a big screen, and refreshments. Awards were presented for works created across a range of media, including fine art, works on paper, 3D, print, fibre and texture.