Gina Rinehart used a fan to cover her eye as she delivered a powerful message after being crowned Western Australian of the Year.
Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart delivered a potentially lifesaving reminder to all Australians after being crowned Western Australian of the Year 2023.
The richest woman in the country used her acceptance speech to open up about a recent cancer scare, with the 69-year-old undergoing a facial melanoma removal just hours before the event.
Ms Rinehart attended the gala dinner held at Perth’s Crown Ballroom on Friday night, wearing an elegant off-white gown accessorised with a fan to cover bruising on the right side of her face.
The Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairwoman was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the state and national economy and was also awarded the 2023 Business Award.
“It’s a wonderful honour to be recognised here tonight,” Ms Rinehart beamed as she accepted the award from outgoing Premier Mark McGowan in what was his last engagement as the state’s leader.
A number of other famous faces were among the crowd, including incoming Premier Roger Cook, Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, Mineral Resources founder Chris Ellison and Seven West Media chair Kerry Stokes.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved … and what we’ve been able to contribute to Western Australia and our country and its future,” Ms Rinehart continued.
“We must ensure that our country is not left behind by shortsighted decisions and encourage policies that welcome investment in our wonderful state.”
The mining and agriculture industry leader also used the platform to explain she had just left hospital after undergoing a medical procedure before delivering a powerful safety message.
“I should probably remind you all, please do the sun cream, do the hats and do the check-ups, please, which I didn’t do,” she said.
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Ms Rinehart also reflected on the success of Hancock Prospecting, which she transformed from a financially struggling company to one of Australia’s leading mining corporations.
The company was founded by Ms Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in 1955, before appointing his daughter as chairwoman in 1992.
“It’s actually a very long way from where my family company was 30 years ago and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in this time for our company and what we’ve been able to contribute to West Australia and our country and our future,” she said.
Outside of the mining sector, Ms Rinehart is a passionate philanthropist and supports numerous medical, educational, sporting, health and community organisations.
In 1993, she established the Hancock Family Breast Cancer Foundation before later raising awareness about the devastating disease by painting three Roy Hill trucks pink.
More recently, the mother-of-four was deemed Australia’s richest citizen with a net worth of $26.9 billion, which translates to a ranking of 52nd on Forbes 2023 list of Billionaires.
Ms Rinehart was applauded alongside a string of other award winners, including the first indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives Ken Wyatt and surgeon and medical research trailblazer Professor Marcus Atlas.
Composer and musical director Iain Grandage, autism researcher and science communicator Professor Andrew Whitehouse, Paralympian Brad Ness and athlete and disability advocate Madison Heady were also celebrated for their achievements.
This year marked 50 years of the Western Australian of the Year Awards, which commemorates Western Australians who are making significant contributions to the state’s community.
The main areas which are recognised include work in the arts and culture, indigenous community, social, scientific, economic and sport sectors.
