Aboriginal community farewells Rio Tinto Coal Australia

The South Burnett Aboriginal community farewelled RTCA at a recent function, thanking the company for helping the community achieve its vision.

Tarong Mine, formerly owned by RTCA, worked with the Bunya Wakka Wakka community to establish RTCA's first Aboriginal funding programme, which has helped deliver education, training, community and business development projects over the past four years.

The establishment of the Bunya Wakka Wakka Cultural and Heritage Corporation was a key outcome of this work, helping the Aboriginal community participate in the regional economy.

"We really appreciate the work Rio Tinto and Tarong Mine have done to help us become stronger and establish a professional organisation," Bunya Wakka Wakka representative Patricia Bond said.

"The funding we have received has helped us to achieve our vision. We would welcome visits from other Aboriginal groups Rio Tinto is working with so we can show them what can be achieved by working together."

RTCA Manager Aboriginal Relations Jeremy van de Bund presented Bunya Wakka Wakka community members with clocks to symbolise their time spent working together, receiving a framed photograph and inscribed boomerang in return.

"The past year has been a time of change for all of us, with Tarong Mine changing hands to Tarong Energy Corporation," Mr van de Bund said.

"I am very proud of the pioneering work we have done together and believe that by forming relationships based on mutual respect and trust, we have helped build a bright and sustainable future for the South Burnett Aboriginal community."