While the picturesque Southern Downs town of Warwick is most famous for its annual rodeo, historic sandstone buildings and stunning rose gardens it can also claim fame to launching the careers of arguably the world’s greatest rugby league coach in Wayne Bennett and exciting young Australian Diamonds and Firebirds netballer Laura Geitz.
In search of future rugby league and netballing champions and supporters, the Anglo American Brisbane Broncos Regional Partnership Program rolled into Warwick on Wednesday 29 May to witness the staging of the finals in the respective sports.
Met Coal’s Corporate Branding and Events Coordinator, Jackie Noble said the Anglo American Brisbane Broncos rugby league and netball competitions attracted participation from more than 600 students from high schools scattered across the Southern Downs.
“This was only Anglo American’s second year of joining with the Brisbane Broncos to sponsor this valued grassroots competition on the Southern Downs and already Anglo American is realising the benefits such exposure brings from what is traditionally a non-mining community.
“Similar to other rural areas of Queensland where job opportunities are limited, Southern Downs’ locals and school leavers are keen to explore their career prospects in the mining industry, so it’s not surprising that we were mobbed upon our arrival into Warwick last week.
“It’s exciting to see the interest in mining from these people, particularly the young students who are more accustomed to seeing a combine harvester combing the countryside rather than a dragline operating in the distance,” said Jackie.
Brisbane Broncos principal player and former State Of Origin playmaker David Stagg joined the Brisbane Broncos Game Development team as a special guest in Warwick and enjoyed taking in the sporting action while he recovers from a knee injury.
Brisbane Broncos Game Development Manager Paul Dyer said the Brisbane Broncos were delighted to once again welcome Anglo American as its Regional Partner for 2013 and continue with the enormous success the program achieved in the past 18 months.
“Our Regional Partnership program is a much valued asset of the Brisbane Broncos business and we are very much looking forward to further developing our close association with Anglo American this year.
“Our Anglo American Regional Partnership program enables regional communities such as Warwick to benefit from having members of the Brisbane Broncos share not only their football skills but also their life skills,” said Paul.
Warwick’s Assumption College was successful in taking out both this year’s rugby league and netball Anglo American Brisbane Broncos Southern Downs Challenge competitions.
ENDS
Contact Metallurgical Coal Corporate Affairs (Australia):
Jacqui Strambi: +61 439 774 526
Notes to editors:
Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal; base metals – copper and nickel; and precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations, extensive pipeline of growth projects and exploration activities span southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.
www.angloamerican.com
www.angloamerican.com.au