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THE LEGACY OFMATESHIP
“We are there at the start with emotional and practical
support helping families organise arrangements, making sure the
household bills get paid – basically, we put our arm around their
shoulder and make sure they will be OK. But after those first days
begin to fade, we don’t leave. We are long-term support. Miners’
Promise is a legacy scheme that makes sure that the ‘resources
industry family’ takes care of its own; that they are never alone
after tragedy.”
Helen Fitzroy’s motivation was her family’s personal tragedy
– husband Steve killed while working underground at Norseman
many years ago. Helen was left to not only raise her three young
children, but to battle for answers to ‘why’ and ‘how’ Steve died,
and then fight for compensation to support her family.
“The first minutes, days and weeks are absolutely horrible
– and, really, as the months go on it doesn’t get any easier; it’s
just the issues that change,” Helen says. “Steve’s death made me
passionate about safety in the industry, and it has also made me
passionate about Miners’ Promise.”
Established in July 2010, Miners’ Promise is a not-for-profit
organisation that works with companies, unions and government,
but is independent of them, to ensure that its focus and service
delivery is solely on those being helped. It is open to all employees
of participating companies or sponsors within the resources sector
of WA – onshore or offshore, on mine sites, in offices or elsewhere.
Membership provides cover for death or permanent disability,
regardless of whether it occurs at work or not.
Areas with whichMiners’ Promise will assist include immediate
financial assistance for mortgage payments, car loans, daily living
expenses,
funeral
costs,
travel and accommodation
costs, emotional and trauma
support, financial and legal
advice, household help and
maintenance, if necessary.
The organisation also
seeks to assist families
with ongoing education and
training support for partners,
spouses
and
dependent
children. The full terms
and conditions relating to
Miners’ Promise are available
on their website.
“Miners’ Promise is a lot
more than just practical or
financial help at the worst
of times,” says Ian Fletcher.
“Perhaps the biggest support
we offer is the comfort of
people knowing that they are
not alone; that someone will
be there to help them. I’ve
often said: it’s mates looking
after mates.”
MINERS’ PROMISE IS OPEN TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES WITHIN WA’S RESOURCE SECTOR
AMINERS’ PROMISE
MINERS’ PROMISE HAS BEEN FOUNDED ON AN AUSTRALIAN VALUE – MATESHIP.
IT IS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT SUPPORT SERVICE FOR RESOURCES INDUSTRY WORKERS
Miners’ Promise is
a legacy scheme that
makes sure that the
‘resources industry
family’ takes care of
its own; that they are
never alone after tragedy.
MINESITE 2011
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