Press Release
1 August 2022
Annual Diggers & Dealers dig deep for the goldfields at risk community
Goldfields mining and technology companies are banding together and urging the community to join them to combat hunger in the region.
Mining tech company Minnovare, along with a group of other mining companies and local organisations such as the Salvation Army and Boulder Rotary Club, is sponsoring the return of the Goldfields Soup Patrol Service. The mobile food service delivers essentials to those in need in the rural camps and communities. The van hasn’t been operational since 2019 when COVID hit due to a lack of funding and support.
Thanks to the combined support of these organisations, the relaunch the soup van will be officially launched at the local Kalgoorlie-Boulder Salvation Army Branch on Sunday the 31st of August. The van will then be on display at the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum in Kalgoorlie, from August 1.
“We want to give back to the communities in which we live and operate. I’m pleased we will be able to restart the Goldfields Soup Patrol Service and keep it on the road servicing the local community.” said Minnovare Director Michael Beilby.
The decision to revive the service is a collaborative effort between local community members previously involved with the service backed by the support of Minnovare, Northern Star Resources, Perseverance Drilling, Silver Lake Resources, Robit, the Boulder Rotary Club and the Salvation Army.
“This is a wonderful example of how it takes a village to make a difference.” said Mr Beilby.
The van services around 9,000 Goldfields residents who are either homeless, at risk of homelessness, socially disadvantaged or on low incomes.
“People who are homeless in Kalgoorlie might have a home in their community, but issues around resources and poverty mean they get stranded and end up camping, couch-surfing or sleeping rough until they can find a way to return.” said Mr Beilby. “For the vulnerable residents in the region, especially during a cold Winter, a cup of soup and some warm bread goes a long way.”
The van will be patrolling the region during the annual Diggers and Dealers 31st annual Mining Forum from August 1 to 3, which serves as an important reminder of the disadvantaged rural communities residing nearby who are in need.
The soup van was established in 1998 and patrols the Goldfields region of Western Australia to deliver food and essentials to the homeless, disadvantaged, and vulnerable. The goal was to provide a hot meal a few nights a week for those in need.
In that time the soup van has delivered more than 195,000 meals to those in need in the Goldfields region. Each week the van will serve about 180 people in need.
Those that have accessed the services acknowledge the importance of the soup van and have said “the Soup Patrol is always here for us.”
Over many years the service was successful because of the passion and involvement of Andrew Smith, the then Managing Director of Perseverance Drilling. Minnovare and the other local companies want to continue Andrew’s hard work and legacy.
Andrew Ross, the current manager of Perseverance Drilling is proud of the local and industry support that now sees this much needed service rolling again.
“Minnovare and other mining and tech companies have a heart and we are committed to providing this valuable service” said Mr Ross.
MEDIA RELEASE ENDS
Media Opportunity: The official launch of the van will happen at The Salvation Army Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corp, at the Corner O’Berthur and, Hopetoun St, South Kalgoorlie WA on July 31st at 6pm.
The van will also be on display at the Diggers & Dealers Forum and a photo opportunity can be organised on Monday, August 1 at 8.45am before the 9am Forum welcome.
Minnovare Director, Michael Beilby, is at the Forum and available for interviews.
For more information on this media release, please contact:
Minnovare
Diane Porteous, Head of Global Marketing 0401 392 163
dporteous@minnovare.com
Perseverance Drilling
Andrew Ross, Manager, 0427 478 390 aross@perdrill.com.au