Tickled Pink

14 June 2008

Heads turn at our Tom Price mine as she drives past. But it's not because she weighs more than 158 tonnes. Or because she's seven metres tall.

It's because of her unique accessory - a pink tray specially designed for breast cancer awareness.

Tom Price's unique haul truck is one of four pieces of equipment 'dressed' pink to help raise money for the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation and awareness of the disease which affects more than 13,000 Australian women each year.

Local community welcomes delivery to Pannawonica

Rio Tinto Superintendent Brian Lee was the 'stylist' and driving force behind the project, which has raised more than $22,000 for the Foundation so far.

"Each year in October it's common to see buildings lit up with pink lights for breast cancer awareness, but I knew we could do more," says Brian.

"When I came up with the idea I initially received very strange looks and silence over the phone."

"But once everyone understood what I wanted to do, the project gained momentum and now our pink beauties are a year-long reminder of the disease affecting so many Australian women."

"Hopefully, seeing the trucks will remind everyone, including the guys who have mums, wives, sisters, daughters and female friends, about the importance of regular check-ups."

Tom Price's haul truck, delivered in May, will be partnered by a pink excavator. In Pannawonica also has a pink haul truck and Hope Downs will receive an excavator with a pink arm and bucket.

We were able to make this project possible with the additional support and fundraising efforts of Austin Engineering, Hitachi, Integrated Project Solutions, Komatsu, Sign Here Signs, Terex and Westrac.