Mining Industry gets behind the ILP

Simon Fitzgerald, the CEO of the Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA), estimates that 80% of employees of member companies have worked in remote areas in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and have become concerned with Indigenous issues through their contact with local people there.

“Many of us come into contact with small local communities who are trying to etch out an existence without the benefit of the usual services that most of us take for granted. We are therefore well aware of the plight of these communities.’

He believes that the majority of ADIA members would consider The Indigenous Literacy Project to be well worth supporting, and the $31,500 raised at the ADIA annual dinner recently suggests that this assumption is correct.

“Many of the companies train and hire Indigenous people,” added Gillian Hurst, the CEO of DTH Products, who organized for the ADIA dinner to sponsor the ILP, “so there was a lot of support at the dinner for putting something back into those communities, where the mining is sometimes happening on Traditional Owners’ lands.”

Fred Hollows Ambassador Ernie Dingo and ILP Founder, Suzy Wilson were invited to talk about the Indigenous Literacy Project to 550 members of ADIA at their annual dinner in Adelaide.

“We do recognize that we have a responsibility to help others if we can, and we are therefore grateful that you allowed us the opportunity to assist Reading Opens Doors.” Simon Fitzgerald said. “We have much empathy with the program and its potential benefits to the community and hope that the monies raised… will assist greatly.”

Gillian Hurst found out about the ILP while searching for a charity to support, which she felt passionate about. She was drawn to the ILP because of her experiences with Indigenous people in Cape York and Thursday Island, her love of Indigenous Art, and her own appreciation of literature. As she traveled a lot in her childhood, Gillian was a lonely child, and became an avid reader. She said that “If you can read a book you can go anywhere,” and wanted to support the ILP in giving Indigenous children in remote communities the tools they need to develop their readings skills. She’s excited about the Book Buzz packs that the ILP is giving to babies, which encourages their older siblings and parents to read with them.

The ADIA dinner concluded with an auction, which was MC’d by Ernie Dingo. Miniature drilling rigs donated by Gillian Hurst’s company DTH Products were auctioned, along with expensive wines, the ILP’s Book Buzz bag, a quilt, a signed football jersey, a basket of South Australian chocolates and other items, and the $31,500 raised went to the ILP.

Many thanks to all who contributed; and also to the ADIA, Simon Fitzgerald and Gillian Hurst.