Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti Australia joined nine other teams to test their skills in front of the wider Western Australian community at the 10th annual Mining and Emergency Response Competition (MERC) last month.

Shooting Stars participants from Narrogin with the Gold Industry Group team

The free event was held in Langley Park Perth, over 28 and 29 November 2020. Newmont Australia was a platinum sponsor for the MERC this year with Gold Industry Group (GIG) members Newmont and Northern Star Resources, as Platinum and Gold sponsors respectively. GIG was proud to be MERC’s industry partner for the second year in a row, as we brought back our gold panning activity.

The Mining Emergency Response Competition is not just an event for the mining industry. The competition is also a great opportunity for the wider WA community to witness the industry in action, as the teams are tested in a series of realistic scenarios, including first aid, car crash and firefighting challenges. The action-packed scenarios are fun for the whole family, with plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained all weekend.

Newmont Boddington team celebrating their 2nd place overall

GIG provided a fun dry gold panning activity for the public, which proved to be a very popular station, with children and families trying their luck and fossick for ‘gold’ to win a show bag. The gold-themed giveaways highlighted our National Gold Education Program, the Heart of Gold Australia app and Gold Jobs website.

Over two days, MERC’s 11 competing teams put their skills to the test in eight different scenarios, which assessed their response in realistic emergencies.

Shooting Stars participants with the Newmont team

AngloGold Ashanti Australia team with their Team Spirit award

The GIG invited special guests - Shooting Stars participants from Narrogin - to the 2020 event . The young women experienced the competition for the first time, and had the chance to talk with the Tropicana and Boddington teams. Their action-packed day included watching the scenarios and participating in a wide variety of fun activities. They were even lucky enough to sit up front in the Tropicana team’s fire truck!  

The weekend culminated in a gala on Sunday evening, at which MERC presented it’s chosen charity partner - the Blue Tree Project - with a $25,000 cheque, the funds of which were raised through the sale of goods and services during the competition and raffle tickets during the awards evening. The Project’s mission is to help spark conversations about mental health, using the painting of trees as a way to spread their message that “it’s okay to not be okay”.

Former West Coast Eagles player Adrian Barich took the reins as the Master of Ceremonies, and newly-elected Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Basil Zempilas, officially opened the MERC during his welcome address.

Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA also addressed those in attendance, explaining the vital role that the WA resources sector played during COVID-19 and the value of its ongoing contribution to our nation’s economy and wider community.

Newmont’s Boddington team were ecstatic to be awarded Overall Second Place, also coming in first for for both First Aid and Team Safety, with team member Sarah Morley receiving second place for Best Medic.

AngloGold Ashanti’s Tropicana team were awarded first place for both ERT Readiness and Team Spirit, with their own Carley Mitchell taking out second place for Best Captain.

VIEW 2020 PHOTO GALLERY

Overall Winners

  1. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  2. Newmont Boddington

  3. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

Overall Awards

Team Safety

  1. Newmont Boddington

  2. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

  3. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

Team Spirit

  1. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

  2. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

  3. Pannawonica Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service

Breathing Apparatus

  1. Karara Mining

  2. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  3. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

First Aid

  1. Newmont Boddington

  2. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  3. FMG Christmas Creek

Scenario Awards

Road Crash Rescue

  1. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

  2. Newmont Boddington

  3. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

Hazmat

  1. Karara Mining

  2. Newmont Boddington

  3. Synergy Muja Power Station

Fire Fighting

  1. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  2. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

  3. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

Confined Space

  1. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  2. FMG Christmas Creek

  3. Karara Mining

ERT Readiness

  1. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

  2. FMG Christmas Creek

  3. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

First Aid

  1. Synergy Muja Power Station

  2. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

  3. Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

Vertical Rescue

  1. Synergy Muja Power Station

  2. AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

  3. Rio Tinto Supply Chain & Services

Individual Awards

Best Captain

  1. Matt Butterwood – Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  2. Carley Mitchell – AngloGold Ashanti Tropicana Gold Mine

  3. Ken Ackerer – FMG Christmas Creek

Best Medic

  1. Kleon Langdon – Rio Tinto Pilbara Mining Operations

  2. Sarah Morley – Newmont Boddington

  3. Jed Stubbs – FMG Christmas Creek

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