WHITEHAVEN’s new Caterpillar 789 has gone blue for a good cause.
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The massive piece of machinery at work at the $767 million Maules Creek open-cut mine has been painted blue and features a blue ribbbon in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The vehicle is part of a campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
To support the campaign, Whitehaven will donate $10,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The idea to support the foundation came from Whitehaven’s work health and safety officer Kelly Browning.
“So many men work on site at Maules Creek, I felt it would be a good idea to do something that highlighted this serious men’s health issue,” she said.
“Painting the truck blue seemed like a fun way of raising awareness among our workforce and also in the wider community.
“The blue really stands out, so you can’t miss it!¨
Chief executive officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Associate Professor Anthony Lowe said he was pleased to have the support of Whitehaven Coal.
“Prostate cancer continues to devastate thousands of lives each year in Australia and we are committed to raising more awareness of the disease amongst Australian men, especially in rural and regional communities,” he said.
Whitehaven purchased the Caterpillar 789 from Westrac, who have also supported the initiative.
General manager at the Maules Creek project, Peter Wilkinson, said: “Painting the Caterpillar 789 blue is a simple, but effective way of Whitehaven helping to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer.
“We have been supported by Westrac in this initiative and we very much hope the sight of the blue tray working on site will remind our team of the importance of staying fit and healthy and getting regular check ups.”
Each year in Australia, close to 3,300 men die of prostate cancer - equal to the number of women who die from breast cancer annually.
About 20,000 new cases are diagnosed in Australian every year.
Prostate cancer can be cured if detected and treated early.