A remote Queensland community with no ambulance now has a vital tool to help save lives in emergencies.
Anglo American has worked with Burke Shire Council, in Far North Queensland, to install an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at public facilities in Gregory town centre.
Anglo American Discovery Manager Ira Friedman said the Gregory community was now better equipped to respond to sudden cardiac arrests and other critical medical situations.
“Every second counts when someone has a heart attack so the installation of this AED is a vital step in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of this community,” he said.
“Gregory has no ambulance and relies on the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) to provide medical assistance from Mt Isa which is about 1.5 hours away by air.
“In rural areas where emergency response times can be longer, having access to lifesaving equipment like an AED can make all the difference in a critical medical situation.
“Gregory is a small community but the population can double during the winter months when the grey nomads come through town so it’s important to have access to an AED until emergency assistance arrives.”
Anglo American has base metal exploration under way in the Burke Shire Council area.
The Planet Downs Project, which covers 6,497 km2, involved airborne surveying in 2024 but will this year progress to seismic surveying and drilling in search of base metals, primarily copper.
Burke Shire Council Deputy Mayor John Clarke said improving health outcomes was important no matter where people lived and thanked Anglo American for its contribution.
“This AED gives us peace of mind knowing we’re better prepared to respond to a medical emergency,” he said.
“It’s a small addition but it could save a life – and that means everything to a tight-knit community like ours.”
In Australia, Anglo American has five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, along with additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, and base metals exploration projects in Queensland.