Kirkland Lake Gold launched a $12 million Australian Community Partnership Program in Bendigo today to support COVID-19 recovery and leave a positive community legacy.
Launch event
Community projects in Central Victoria will receive more than $10 million through the Program over the next three years, supporting the disadvantaged, education and training, social health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and economic development. Funds are also earmarked for partnerships near Kirkland Lake Gold’s projects in the Northern Territory.
Kirkland Lake Gold VP Australian Operations (Co Lead) Ion Hann
The Program will support organisations that deliver essential community services and which continue to overcome challenges from the pandemic, including increased services demand.
Kirkland Lake Gold VP Australian Operations (Co Lead) Ion Hann shared the importance of the Program in supporting the community recovery.
“Kirkland Lake Gold is proud to support a diversity of projects to assist the community with post-COVID recovery. Our goal is to make a sustained impact in the partner organisations and the lives of the people they support, leaving a positive legacy for the community,” Mr Hann said.
Haven Home Safe
Partnerships currently commencing include: Haven Home Safe; Bendigo Foodshare; Bendigo Tech School – Girls in STEAM; Bendigo Basketball Stadium; North Central Local Learning and Employment Network; and Axedale Camp Getaway.
“Bendigo Foodshare has seen the need for food relief rise 30% since the pandemic began. No one should have to go without food. Australia produces more than enough for all of us. Thanks to Kirkland Lake Gold, the Victorian Government and our community, we are fitting out a bigger warehouse so that our 300 volunteers can rescue and source more food and deliver it to those in need. This will make a difference in Bendigo and Central Victoria. We will be able to prevent more food from going to landfill and reduce the number of people going hungry,” said Cathie Steele, Chair of Bendigo Foodshare.
"Covid-19 has heavily impacted face to face school visits and there is a new appetite from for programs we can deliver in schools or on weekends and holidays. This generous grant from Kirkland Lake Gold will enable girls from local high schools to build an electric car! This exciting and aspirational project will launch an important narrative for the Bendigo Community about automotive waste, upcycling, future transport sustainability, new energies and Girls in STEAM (science, in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) career pathways,” said Jemily Florence (Sweet), STEAM Learning Designer at Bendigo Tech School, La Trobe University.
The Program funding is in addition to the Company’s Fosterville Gold Mine’s annual Community Grants Program for the Bendigo region, and builds on the $1 million contribution from Kirkland Lake Gold to regional bushfire relief and recovery in January 2020 and a $400,000 local CFA fund announced in December 2020.