Carmichael Cans and Containers Help Keep Rescue Chopper Flying

A recycling program in use at the Carmichael mine near Clermont in central Queensland is helping keep the region’s lifesaving RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter flying.

Bravus Mining and Resources has donated close to $50,000 to RACQ CQ Rescue this year from money raised via the Change for Choppers program, which cashes in cans and bottles collected at its Carmichael mine.

Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the success of the program was due to its simplicity, and a hungry and thirsty workforce.

“We’ve been proudly supporting RACQ CQ Rescue since 2018 as we recognise the organisation’s critical role as a lifesaving service not only for our workforce, but for our broader community,” Mr Crowe said.

“The Change for Choppers recycling program is a natural extension of that successful partnership, and it’s something we’d strongly encourage other local businesses to get behind.

“Mackay-based group Anything Environmental developed the program and they do the heavy lifting for us. They put the bins in place, collect the recyclable materials, and tally up the donation – all of which goes to RACQ CQ Rescue.

“Our people are enthusiastic about doing what they can to reduce, reuse, and recycle on site, and Change for Choppers makes it as simple as putting the right thing in the right bin.

“The result is an extra $50,000 donated to keep our only local rescue helicopter flying, in addition to the other support we give as part of our Community Partnerships Program.”

RACQ CQ Rescue CEO Tim Healee said the community was indebted to corporate partners like Bravus Mining and Resources who, through campaigns like Change for Choppers, assisted the not-for-profit service which was vital to the sick and injured within central and north Queensland.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such vital support from the community which ensures we can have a world-class aeromedical helicopter service on our doorstep and available anywhere, anytime throughout central Queensland,” Mr Healee said.

“RACQ CQ Rescue is a vital part of emergency support for all residents, visitors and workers in this region and it’s reassuring to know corporate organisations like Bravus appreciate the value of supporting our helicopter and that with their support we can continue to provide our vital, lifesaving service to anyone in a time of crisis.

“The reality is we rely heavily on sponsorships and donations, so community and corporate support is vital to keeping the helicopter available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice.”

Mr Healee said CQ Rescue’s operational expenses would be in the vicinity of $11.5 million in 2023, with more than half of this amount being contributed from sponsorships, corporate donations, workplace giving, events and community contributions.

With the rescue helicopter’s workload increasing annually, last year clocking up a record 638 tasks, it was a reflection of the ever-growing necessity for such a lifesaving organisation which serviced an area more than four times the size of Tasmania, Mr Healee said.

ENDS

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