A team of Norton Gold Fields employees embarked on a thrilling adventure last month, abseiling 40 storeys down Western Australia’s highest single pitch building to raise awareness and much-needed funds for Lifeline WA.
Norton Gold Fields Senior Processing & Haulage Coordinator and Toll Treatment Liaison Angela Spencer approached the company through Administration Officer Miki (Xiaoyu) Wang to help sponsor Lifeline WA in memory of her younger brother Daniel, who passed away 18 months ago.
“I jumped at the opportunity to abseil for Lifeline WA, not only for my younger brother, but also because there is proof enough that mental health is an issue in the mining industry and it’s no exaggeration to say that mental fitness is a critical lever for productivity – as such, the courage to rappel new heights echoes the courage it takes to speak up when you’re not feeling mentally 100%,” said Ms Spencer.
Norton Gold Fields sponsored a team, which included Angela Spencer, Ramon Papasin, Sarah Harris, Kaila McLerie and Miki Wang. Banding together they raised funds and awareness for Lifeline WA embarking on the QV1 Urban Descent Challenge on 31 October.
“Abseiling always gives me an exhilarating feeling and so I got involved when Norton Gold Fields asked for volunteers to abseil for this great fund-raising event. I am familiar with Lifeline WA, whose vision is to help and support others who find themselves in emotional and mental crisis. I was lucky to take part in this adventure-filled event for a good cause with my work mates,” said Mr Papasin.
Together, the team travelled from the Goldfields region where Norton Gold Fields operate the Paddington gold project to Perth to bravely abseil 165m down the QV1 tower. Two team members also went on to participate in the exhilarating 175m zipline task, having raised additional funds for the charity.
Norton Gold Fields’ raised just over $5,800 in funds for Lifeline WA from Norton Gold Fields, Rivet Mining Services, BKay Pty Ltd, and family and friends.
The team members were overjoyed to participate in the worthwhile event.
“It was an incredible opportunity to support a worthy cause like Lifeline WA by abseiling the QV1 - brilliant!” said Ms Harris.
“The QV1 abseil was an amazing experience. I was happy to do it for such a great cause and raise some awareness whilst doing it. It was a memorable event in my life, and I would highly recommend this experience to anyone,” Ms McLerie agreed.
This year’s theme for the Challenge – ‘Be the Hero’ – encourages participants to show themselves as the charity heroes they are by donning superhero colours and alter egos.
This was Lifeline WA’s second time taking part in the fundraising event, originally scheduled for earlier in 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19. Lifeline WA provides a wide range of vital services for the Western Australian community, including phone and online crisis support, suicide prevention initiatives and face-to-face counselling programs.
Lifeline WA chief executive Lorna MacGregor said fundraising events were vital to Lifeline WA’s presence in the community.
“These types of events ensure we build our awareness and grow our funding to meet the demand of our vastly growing 13 11 14 crisis support telephone service and to save lives. We are very proud of the team from Norton Gold Fields’ and all the brave people who took on this unique challenge,” she said.
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