Coronado Global Resources’ Curragh complex marked its 40th anniversary on September 9, 2023, with a community-wide celebration known as The Curragh Community Day. This milestone event was a highlight on Coronado Curragh’s 2023 calendar and for residents in Blackwater and surrounding areas. The overarching goal of the celebration was to actively involve the entire community and give back to the families and businesses that have played a vital role in our community. We celebrated 40 years of hard work, dedication, and the collaborative effort that has built a resilient and vibrant community.
Challenge
Our staff working group knew meticulous planning skills were needed to ensure an enjoyable and memorable event for all, including the volunteers, schools, Indigenous representatives, and large number of businesses who would support it.
The working group’s efforts would also include facilitating stores for vendors, and ensuring each stall holder had a dedicated space with tents/gazebos provided to those without them.
Solution
Consultations were arranged with Curragh staff and external stakeholders to ensure a collaborative and inclusive planning process. Their input would reflect the desires and interests of the community to make the event more meaningful and relevant.
Outcomes
Coronado Curragh’s 40th-anniversary celebration was a resounding success, with more than 1000 people in attendance.
The day comprised so many aspects/events, from a Welcome to Country, traditional Indigenous dancing, a replica-dragline shaped cake, and buses to take 450 people for exclusive tours of the mine. Local market and food stalls featured and there were so many activities for children, as well as live music.
An estimated $150,000 was injected into the local Blackwater economy, through our contribution of $100,000 and the subsequent positive impact on more than 40 businesses and community groups that either participated or were engaged for services. We specifically allocated $15,000 to donations for local community, school, and sporting groups. This exemplified a tangible investment in supporting and enhancing local entities.
The event was made possible through Coronado’s volunteer working group of staff, community businesses, volunteer groups, as well as contractors across our business coming together. A full list of business acknowledgements is included in Appendix A at the back of this report.
Furthermore, opening the doors of the mine to the community through bus tours, fostered a sense of inclusion and connection between residents and the mining operations.
The event’s design ensured widespread participation and enjoyment. This not only strengthened community bonds but also demonstrated a thoughtful and inclusive approach to event planning.
Acknowledgements
We make the following acknowledgements to businesses and groups who helped ensure that Coronado Curragh complex’s 40th Birthday Community Day celebrations were such a success.
Acknowledgments are extended to the following paid vendors operating in the Central Queensland region (Emerald to Yeppoon):
- Fun-time Amusements
- Flow Fitness Yeppoon
- Crazy Cat Lady (face painting)
- Jessica’s Creations (face painting)
- Cheeky Monkeys Soft Play
- Maddy & the Hoopers
- A Piece of Cake (dragline cake maker)
- Monstaprintz (cut outs)
Additionally, appreciation is expressed to food vendors who participated without charge, with all proceeds from their sales returning to their respective businesses:
- Cookies Coffee Bew 2 U
- Galactic Donuts
- Twisted Tatas and Woodfire 600
- Big Mama
- Mr Whippy Ice Cream
Special recognition goes to several businesses that played integral roles in the event:
- Blackwater International Coal Centre (venue)
- Fee Powell Photography (photographer)
- Appleton Studios (videographer)
- Stylish Events & Hire (event management)
Community organisation volunteers:
- The Under 17 premiership-winning Rugby League Blackwater Crushers Juniors who helped with the car park to fundraise money for their football camp to Keppel Island.
- Tiny Tots who fundraised by providing helium balloons with all proceeds going towards their centre.
- Blackwater C&K Child Care Centre for donating sensory stations for young children to interact with.
- CWA who assisted with our Guess the Weight of Coal competition that saw 2x generators given away as prizes.
- Blackwater State School which allowed us to use their oval for parking.
Furthermore, various stallholders participated at no charge, with all sales proceeds returning to their businesses:
- Wild by Design Australia
- The Online Lolly Shop
- Just Jesse Handmade Earrings
- MS Pet Services
- Colin Boyce
- From my Garden to Your Plate
- Willow Wisk & Sage
- Mias Headbandz
- ONO’s Jerky
- Sunny Ridge Nursery
- Blackwater Combined Community Christmas Appeal
- JRC Creations
- Gillian Wilkins
- Modern Day Pantry
- Gypsy Fire & Earth
- Stay n Play – The Sensory Way
- Paradise 1 of a Kind.
We also ran a colouring-in competition across the local schools that saw the below schools participate with prizes awarded for each category:
- Blackwater State School
- Blackwater North State School
- Blackwater State High School
- Blackwater Tiny Tots Centre
- C& K Kindy Elm Street
- C&K Blackwater Community Kindergarten
- Bluff State School
- Comet State School.
