3 July 2015

Whitehaven supports NAIDOC Week

Whitehaven Coal is marking this year’s NAIDOC Week between 5-12 July with a series of events.

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The National NAIDOC theme for 2015 is: We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate. 

This year the theme highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ strong spiritual and cultural connection to land and sea, and was also chosen specifically to highlight and celebrate the anniversary of the ‘Handback’ of Uluru.

Whitehaven, the leading employer in the north west NSW region, has made a donation of $1,500 to the local Gunnedah NAIDOC committee which will assist in providing a full program of activities celebrating NAIDOC week. Pictured are Whitehaven’s Aboriginal Community Relations Officer Bob Sutherland, Gunnedah NAIDOC committee member Vinnie Winsor and Whitehaven’s Group Manager Community Relations and Property Tim Muldoon.

Staff at Whitehaven’s new Maules Creek operation – where the Aboriginal workforce currently equates 15% of the total number – were also provided with a BBQ to mark NAIDOC Week which featured guest speaker Greg Griffiths.

Bob Sutherland, Whitehaven’s Aboriginal Community Relations Officer, said, : “We are keen to ensure that the benefits from our operations flow locally, including to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who represent around 10% of the population where we operate. NAIDOC Week is a great time for pride and participation in the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our donation to Gunnedah NAIDOC is recognition of that fact.”

Vinnie Winsor, from Gunnedah NAIDOC, said: “We are very thankful to Whitehaven Coal for their support of such an important community event. We look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with the company who are an important local employer.”

To find out more about NAIDOC Week, please visit http://www.naidoc.org.au/about

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