Salty the lion

Not many people have been inside a lion and lived to talk about it. Tony Smyth, Rio Tinto Minerals’ Training Co-ordinator WA, is a rare exception… though it was no picnic.

“I was zipped up inside the lion suit, which weighs at least 15 kilos, and prancing around the FeNaClNG Festival in Dampier in 38 degree heat for 40 minutes at a stretch,” he smiles.

“Even though I had a five litre camel pack of water I reckon I must have sweated off some weight although the suit isn’t uncomfortable. The main problem was the kids grabbing my fur and pulling my tail. In the end I had to have a couple of mates accompany me to keep the kids from doing too much damage to the suit.”

Tony laughs. “I must have been the only lion in the world with a couple of bodyguards.’”

Tony stands 155 centimetres, just the right height to fit into the 228-centimetre lion suit.

“We are always looking for ways to put something back into the community,” explains Lesley Thomas, Site Administrator at Rio Tinto Minerals’ Dampier Operations. “For FeNaClNG we wanted to contribute something that was fun; that made an impact. A brainstorming session of the organisers came up with the idea of a cartoon-type lion. The concept was perfect as the local Lions Club is the principal organiser of the Festival. However, it took us a while to work out what Salty should look like. We wanted him to be lion-like but at the same time to look really friendly.”

Salty’s final design and manufacture by a company in Sydney cost Rio Tinto Minerals more than $10,000. “But,” continues Lesley, “it was worth it as he was such a popular draw at the Festival.”

But why would you call a lion (rather than a crocodile) Salty?

Lesley laughs. “Before the Festival we held a children’s competition to come up with the best name and although there were some very good suggestions… like Leo Tinto… Salty was the outright winner.”

“Which of course is perfect for Rio Tinto Minerals as we have recently changed our name from Dampier Salt. So Salty’s larger-than-life presence reminds everyone that we are still here; still playing our part in the community.”