17 NOVEMBER 2020
Our teams across Australia recognise NAIDOC Week
Our teams across Australia celebrated NAIDOC Week between 8-15 November, recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, acknowledges that First Nations people have occupied and cared for the Australian continent for over 65,000 years.
In Western Australia, our Worsley Alumina team unveiled their new NAIDOC mural, which features on a train carriage that transports alumina between our refinery and Bunbury Port. The team also hosted bush tucker barbeques, Welcome to Country ceremonies, a performance by the Warrdong Dance Group and a cultural journey through conversation with Worsley team member, Austin Kelly.
Our GEMCO team in the Northern Territory jumped on a boat to nearby Bickerton Island to support community celebrations there. It was a fun day filled with traditional music, dance and even a colour run where participants ran through rainbow coloured powders as they completed the race.
GEMCO also held an event to celebrate its Rehabilitation, Mine Services and Legacy (RMSL) team members Mabel Mamarika, Kitana Davis, and Cynthia Mirniyowan who completed their Certificate 1 in Business. It’s the first time in more than a decade that RMSL crew members have achieved a nationally accredited certificate in the workplace. The ladies were supported by the RMSL team’s Literacy, Numeracy and Technology trainer, Clare Schoeller.
At our Cannington operation in Queensland, an Indigenous inspired menu featuring barramundi and bush tomatoes was served at a dinner for our employees. Copies of our new Reconciliation Action Plan were available too.
In New South Wales, members of our Illawarra Metallurgical Coal team took colouring pads featuring Indigenous art home to their families. The pads were designed to help children think and learn about Indigenous culture – and of course to have some fun.
NAIDOC Week is an important time for us to learn more about our shared histories and make progress on our journey towards reconciliation as a nation that embraces the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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