Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill mine’s entire haul truck fleet will be painted bright pink to raise awareness of breast cancer and highlight the growing role of women in mining.
Hope, the first pink truck and named after Rhinehart’s mother, transported a load of iron ore to a crusher after the ceremony at the mine on Monday, with employees donning pink high-vis vests, socks, and helmets.
The second and third trucks, dubbed Ginny and Rachel, were named after Rinehart’s daughter Ginia and goddaughter Rachel who has breast cancer.
Eventually every truck will have their trays painted pink.
“This year alone, there will be 15,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed and it is estimated, very soberingly, around 2700 women will die from breast cancer,” Rinehart said.
“It is imperative we raise attention to the plight and need for tackling breast cancer and provide more funding for critical support and research.”
In 1992 Rinehart began a breast cancer foundation in memory of her mother Hope Hancock who died from the disease.
The mining industry has long supported breast cancer research including GlencoreXstrata’s Ulan mine staff wearing pink for the McGrath Foundation, BHP Billiton and Redpath raising funds through money donated every hour their pink excavator was operational, and two Anglo American 797 rear dump trucks painted pink and blue to raise awareness of the disease.
American oilfield company Baker Hughes also produced pink drill bits for breast cancer research, with the slogan “Doing our bit for the cure”.
Miners have also supported other causes including prostate cancer and depression awareness. Xstrata’s Mt Owen coal mine painted their haul trucks blue to highlight prostate cancer, while Redpath, in partnership with Beyondblue, painted their trucks blue to raise awareness of mental health issues.