It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the celebration on this very special day as we introduce the first of Roy Hill’s Pink Truck’s into service, in recognition of Breast Cancer, breast cancer research and support initiatives, so needed for this sad and devastating disease.
I’d like to introduce the three Roy Hill ladies you see driving our first three pink trucks. Tarnya Bain is driving Hope, Sandra Lloyd is driving Ginny, and Aimee Paterson is driving Rachel.
We all know of the pink ribbon, an international symbol showing moral support for women afflicted with the breast cancer disease. This year alone there will be 15,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed. And it is estimated very soberingly, around 2700 women will die from breast cancer this year alone.
It is imperative we raise attention to the plight and need for tackling breast cancer, and provide more funding for critical support and research. The more we can do to raise support to helping fight this very serious and frightening battle, the closer we come to finding ways to improve treatment options and cures for one of the biggest single killers of women in Australia.
I have been a long standing supporter of cancer research and support initiatives, dating back to the early 90’s when I initiated the then first Breast Cancer Foundation in Australia, the Hancock Family Breast Cancer Foundation Inc., which I also chaired.
We were able to get the then Health Minister to launch National Breast Cancer Day, a first for Australia and now held annually, and brought in speakers, including from overseas, held New Year’s Eve balls, Mother’s Day lunches and auctions and many other fundraising activities, which assisted hereditary and other breast cancer research, the Australia New Zealand breast cancer trials group with Professor Forbes, assistance for country people with breast cancer, petitions to extend the age for mammograms from 50 down to 45 , and more.
But although I usually did these endeavours then late at night, or in the very early morning hours, and currently our more recent foundation, delivers care packages to five West Australian hospitals and has expanded interstate also, this is of course, not enough, and Breast cancer continues to affect one in eight women in their lifetime and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.
It is paramount for women in Australia that early detection is improved, far better treatments occur and treatment outcomes, and hopefully, cures for the various forms of breast cancer.
It is my great pleasure that we at Roy Hill, are further complementing the pink breast cancer ribbon with its important symbol of moral support, adding our own unique touch with the first fleet of pink trucks in Pilbara, together with pink socks for all Roy Hill employees who so wish to wear as a daily reminder of the plight of breast cancer victims, not so fortunate as those healthy enough to be gathered here today.
It is also my hope that our wonderful Roy Hill staff may consider, in addition to their current charitable endeavours, finding ways to help those with the sad, frightening and devastating disease of breast cancer.
This is why I have implemented this resources industry first, that will eventually see all of Roy Hill’s haul truck fleet have their trays painted pink. This symbol celebrates simultaneously the strength of women and the role that women contribute in the mining sector.
Starting with the pink trucks we see here today “Hope” , and “Ginny” named after my daughter, and Ginny is also the name my precious mother affectionately called me. And our third pink truck, is named after my goddaughter, “Rachel”. Rachel has had an incredible battle with aggressive breast cancer these last more than five years. Struggling so hard to stay alive for her beautiful daughters, who are also my goddaughters, and her young son.
Rachel has been an Ambassador for breast cancer. And an inspiration to many whose lives she has touched. Her mother Pat, prior to passing away from breast cancer, was a truly wonderful lady and my dearest lady friend.
Having endured yet another round of chemotherapy on Friday, Rachel still dearly wanted to be able to join us all here today, and sent us all a beautiful greeting as we landed at Roy Hill. Rachel said she was teary about this pink truck being named after her. I wanted to share this with you, so all could have a little better understanding of the wonderful people these pink trucks have been named after.
Breast cancer doesn’t just affect terribly the person concerned, but their families and others close to them also. I hope our launch with pink trucks and pink socks today, will help to reinvigorate our lady staff to try to do more to help those suffering so sadly with breast cancer, and not limit this to just lady staff, as breast cancer affects so many when wives, mothers, daughters and partners who are struck with this terrible disease.
These pink trucks, pink socks and pink PPE worn by all of you here today, also reflect that Roy Hill is one of the highest in percentage employers of women in the iron ore and West Australian mining industry.
Whenever I visit here at the mine, or at the port or ROC in Perth and speak to our female staff, I’m told and love to hear, that they find their time working at Roy Hill very interesting and rewarding, and that they enjoy being a part of Roy Hill’s milestones, such as today.
From an early age I have been involved in a predominantly male centric industry, and now I’m seeing many more women employed in the industry and telling me they find this a great career choice. This is an industry that brings many opportunities for related industries in Australia, and together the mining and related industries underpin Australia’s living standards, generating significant revenue, paying taxes, and providing jobs.
I hope those of you here today always feel proud of your involvement in this industry and your contribution to Australia. Without such contribution, there would be less funds to look after our growing proportion of elderly people, our hospitals, our police and our very defence.
I also hope female students can see a career pathway in the mining industry, but for this to continue to occur, Australia must maintain its cost competitiveness internationally, and implement ways to reduce government red tape and expense.
Thank you for joining me at this special occasion today, and I invite you to ponder the significance of our sturdy pink trucks.
Please join me as we christen Hope and Ginny and Rachel and wish them well as they set off to collect what will be the first of very, very many tonnes of Roy Hill iron ore for processing and ultimately exporting to our partners in Asia.
Thank you.
