Senior Regional Development Officer Bev Brosnan shared her appreciation after the visit, noting how valuable the historical insights were and how memorable it was to see the heritage building — and even a glimpse of gold — up close.

Building strong relationships with regional stakeholders is central to how we operate. Visits like this allow us to showcase the positive work happening across our sites, deepen understanding of our industry, and foster trusted, long‑term partnerships within the region.

Visits from regional partners offer meaningful opportunities to share how our operations work, and the recent stopover by the Mid West Development Commission during Cue Parliament was no exception. Their team reached out for a closer look at Great Fingall, and we were pleased to welcome them on site.

Westgold representatives hosted the group on a tour of the core yard, the Barminco workshop and the historic Great Fingall Mine Office. The tour blended operational insight with local heritage, giving visitors a clearer view of how both the past and present have a purpose and are valued at Westgold. Westgold’s focus on safe, respectful and informative engagement was on display when the group visited our active and heritage areas.

What made this initiative particularly special was the generosity of time and effort from our Cue‑based Westgold team members. Several employees rolled up their sleeves to help bring the project to life — from moving and spreading tonnes of soil, to painting, planting and adding the finishing touches that transformed the space into something truly special.

This project reflects what we value most: supporting young people, celebrating culture, and investing in initiatives that deliver lasting benefits for the communities around our operations.

The Westgold Communities team has been hard at work, proudly partnering with local communities across the Murchison and Southern Goldfield to support initiatives that create meaningful, long‑term value where we operate.

At Westgold, we’re committed to being an active and positive contributor to our host communities — particularly our local schools, which play such a vital role in supporting young people and shaping future generations.

One recent highlight was our involvement with the Cue Primary School Bush Tucker Garden and Working Bee. We were delighted to come on board as the sole sponsor of this new outdoor education initiative, which was thoughtfully developed in response to feedback from parents and the local community.

The Bush Tucker Garden brings together culture, learning and play in a welcoming outdoor space. It features native bush tucker, water pumps, musical elements, a yarnin’ circle and a range of engaging play structures — creating an environment that encourages curiosity, connection and hands‑on learning.

Jacob, one of the Westgold Environmental Advisors, followed the session with a demonstration of one of the drones he uses in his work, giving students a closer look at how modern tools support environmental monitoring. He finished the activity by taking the drone for a short flight and capturing a group photo in front of the old shearing shed — a very memorable way to end the visit.

The day brought learning, laughter and collaboration together. Experiences like this highlight the value of spending time on country, listening first, and creating meaningful opportunities that support mutual learning and understanding.

Exploring country alongside local students is always a privilege, and Westgold’s recent visit with Meekatharra District High School at Belele Station was no exception.

We joined students from Years 3 to 8 for an on‑country learning experience that blended history, culture and environmental understanding. Guided by their Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers, the students walked through the old station grounds while hearing stories that connected the site’s past to the lived experience of families in the region. One AIEO, who had worked on the station in his younger years, added rich detail that brought the place to life.

Our team then led an interactive “animal detective” session, using tracks, scat and nesting clues to explore native species and local pests. The students’ knowledge was impressive and showed their deep connection to country. They also shared several Wajarri animal names with us — a reminder of how two‑way learning thrives when sessions are hands‑on, collaborative and respectful.

We recently travelled to Norseman to see the program in action, where students took part in a mix of interactive maths games and free‑play activities. The energy in the room was electric, with students eagerly engaging with the session.

By supporting initiatives like Teach Learn Grow, we help create opportunities that encourage learning, build confidence and support long‑term educational outcomes for students in our host communities. Showing up, investing time and backing programs that make a tangible difference helps ensure young people have access to experiences that support their growth now and into the future.

Westgold’s ongoing support for Teach Learn Grow recognises the challenges regional schools face in accessing the same extracurricular opportunities often readily available in metropolitan areas.

With fewer excursions, specialist programs and community‑led initiatives, students in regional communities can miss out on experiences that support learning beyond the classroom.

Teach Learn Grow helps address this gap by bringing new faces, new approaches and engaging activities into schools. Once word spreads that the program is in town, attendance lifts — reflecting the excitement students feel about being part of something different and hands‑on.

The program also supports schools working to strengthen literacy and numeracy outcomes, where additional resources can make a real difference.

Students spoke directly with each team member about the realities of their roles, the school subjects that sparked their interest, and what they wish they’d known earlier in their careers. They were encouraged to take these reflections home and consider how their own strengths and interests might shape future pathways. Feedback from the school continues to highlight the positive impact of these visits, including increased attendance on days students know our team will be there. That level of engagement reinforces the value of showing up consistently and investing time in meaningful conversations with young people.

We’re grateful to the Westgold team members and supervisors who support these visits throughout the year. Their involvement helps create opportunities that inform, inspire and support the next generation as they explore what’s possible.

Learning doesn’t always stay within the classroom, and our recent visit to Norseman District High School created opportunities for curiosity, conversation and hands‑on discovery across multiple year levels.

We began the day with students from Years 1 to 3, delivering a Native and Introduced Fauna session tailored to the Southern Goldfields. Local context was woven throughout, including the use of Ngadju names for native animals to help connect language, place and learning. The session was lively and engaging, with students acting out animal movements, matching sounds to species and enthusiastically sharing their own knowledge of country.

Later in the day, we returned with members of our Southern Operations team to run a careers workshop for students in Years 7 to 11. Designed around open, student‑led conversations, the session brought together a range of perspectives, with a fourth‑year fixed plant fitter apprentice, a Geologist and an Environment Officer sharing their pathways and day‑to‑day experiences.

Alongside a financial contribution to support the event, we chose to source all gifts from independent Goldfields businesses. Attendees received beautifully decorated Christmas cookies from Connie’s Café and Cakes, along with handcrafted items from Tumpari Designs — a Ngadju‑owned jewellery and candle business led by Johnine Graham, who handmakes each piece using native quandongs from the Southern Goldfields.

We’re grateful to be able to support moments like these to help strengthen community bonds and ensures our elders and seniors feel valued and included during the festive season.

The festive season brings people together, and the Shire of Coolgardie Elders and Seniors Christmas Luncheon was a wonderful example of that spirit in action. We were pleased to be part of this much‑loved annual celebration, welcoming Elders and seniors from Kambalda, Coolgardie and Norseman for a day of togetherness and Christmas cheer.

The luncheon was filled with lively conversation and long‑awaited catch‑ups. Performances from the local high school, raffles and live music from a local band added to the atmosphere, creating a warm, welcoming space to share a special meal.

As lollies were shared and cheerful “Merry Christmas!” calls echoed from the vehicles, families stepped out to their driveways to watch the parade roll past. The Ute Parade has long been a favourite part of Kambalda’s festive season, bringing people together in a safe, welcoming space that especially delights the local children.

Supporting celebrations like this strengthens not only our connection with the communities but also each other.

Kambalda’s annual Ute Parade brought neighbours together for another joyful Christmas celebration across the town’s streets. Westgold was proud to play our part in the festivities, joining the convoy with a little extra sparkle.

One of our new Land Cruisers was transformed into full festive mode before taking its place alongside local industry partners, small businesses and the Shire. Together, the convoy travelled through every street in Kambalda West and East, spreading a bright thread of colour and Christmas cheer across the community.

The atmosphere in the room reflected the pride not only of the students, but of the staff and mentors who support them every day.

Peter Christen, Westgold General Manager: Southern Goldfields, had the honour of presenting the Rising Star Award to a student who embodied dedication, perseverance and a positive attitude throughout the 2025 school year.

The spirit of the evening aligned closely with Westgold’s own purpose of creating enduring value — supporting opportunities that help people grow, develop and realise their potential.

We’re proud to stand alongside the Academy and look forward to supporting these students as they continue building their futures.

Celebrating the achievements of young people is always a privilege, and the recent Clontarf Awards Night in Kalgoorlie was a standout moment.

As proud partners of the Clontarf Foundation, Westgold joined families, staff and community members to recognise more than 120 young men from the Kalgoorlie Clontarf Academy.

Students from Years 7 to 12 were acknowledged for their academic effort, sporting performance, teamwork, participation in job‑ready programs, and their commitment to showing up and giving their best throughout the year.

A Christmas Tree celebration wouldn’t be complete without presents, and Santa delighted local children, adding an extra layer of excitement to a day centred around family, fun and connection.

It was wonderful to Westgold people from both Beta Hunt and Higginsville operations getting involved across the weekend.

The fantastic feedback received supports how these shared moments help create a safe, welcoming environment for the whole community to enjoy.

The Annual Kambalda Christmas Tree event brought the community together again for another much‑loved festive tradition. Kambalda East Oval was transformed into a full‑day celebration, and Westgold was proud to be there from the event inception.

From cooking at the barbecue and supervising the slip‑and‑slide to joining the Santa parade in our festively decorated Westgold ute, everyone pitched in to support and enjoy the day.

We also supported a local face painter, adding the final touches of Christmas magic and creating memorable moments for more than 100 children!

Being present and involved helped make the evening joyful and memorable for every attendee, reinforcing the importance of coming together to celebrate the season.

Westgold was pleased to support the Kambalda Blue Light Christmas event in December 2025, joining local families for a festive evening filled with connection, celebration and community spirit.

Westgold employees from across the business volunteered their time to help bring the night to life and share the Christmas spirit.

Together, our organisations made a substantial contribution towards the repairs, enabling the project to move forward. The support will help sustain volunteer recruitment and allow training, team events and community engagement to continue.

With completion expected by the end of 2026, the restored Kambalda Sub Centre will provide a safe, functional space for those who care for the community — creating enduring value for local emergency support services.

The St John Kambalda Community Sub Centre is a vital hub for local community paramedics, supporting training, collaboration and volunteering that underpin emergency medical response in the region.

In 2025, significant water damage left the centre’s roof unsafe and the building condemned, placing volunteer retention, training activities and local emergency support at risk. St John approached our Communities team seeking support to help restore the facility.

Westgold partnered with Gold Fields St Ives to deliver a joint funding initiative to rebuild the roof and return the centre to use. The shared approach reflected a united commitment from local industry, keeping the focus firmly on community need rather than individual contribution.

Westgold demonstrates its commitment to regional communities in many ways. We’re often hands on, with our people coaching local sports teams, coaching local school kids in maths, or just cooking the sausages for the local sizzle. 

Our hybrid power installations in the Murchison are a great example of our ethos of investing in environmental programs that also make good business sense. This program is a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability, while also reducing our AISC in the Murchison by around $60 per ounce - by reducing our reliance on diesel.

At the other end of the scale – Westgold is a significant corporate partner of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It makes good sense for us to support their priceless retrieval services that resonate with our safety value – to be there for our people, and our host communities when and where they need it most.