Fun day thanks HVO family and celebrates past, present and future

More than 4,000 members of Hunter Valley Operations’ (HVO) family came together to celebrate the past and present, focus on the future and have some fun together at the HVO Family Day on May 25.

HR manager Amy Hartmann said HVO’s family includes employees and permanent contractors, their family members, charity partners and major suppliers.

She said the day had a fantastic atmosphere and was a huge success. It is another way to thank HVO’s team and other family members for their contribution to the mine.  

“Our people drive our success as a responsible and sustainable mine. And we understand the importance of family,” Amy said.

“Employees and contractors enjoyed being able to show their loved ones where they spend their work time and what they do every day,” she said.

“The mine and coal handling preparation plant (CHPP) tours were a big hit. Not many people get to come on to a mine site or see it operating. From lookouts, children and adults alike were thrilled with the views of the scale of operations while diggers and mine trucks waved and danced for them. On the CHPP tour, visitors got to see how coal is processed before loaded on trains to the Port of Newcastle for export.”

Several departments had displays to showcase and talk to people about what they do. The Technical Services team display covered geology, mine planning, geotechnical engineering and surveying. The Environment and Community team had an interactive display and plants that people could take home. As part of the CHPP tours, the team and several of its suppliers had displays. The Continuation Project Team had information about HVO’s proposal to continue mining to 2050. Kids were running around in ‘I’m the future of HVO’ hi-vis shirts.

Thanks to the work of Engineering Officer, Gregory (Harry) Butler’s 20 metre ‘History of HVO’ display, everyone could look back over the people and events during more than 70 years of mining.

HVO works with around 780 suppliers to mutually benefit HVO and their business. Around 20 major suppliers had displays on the equipment and services they provide onsite as well as merchandise to give away.

Amy said in a mine the size of HVO, different departments, team and crew members don’t always have the chance to get to know or catch up with one another for some fun.

“It was great to see lots of smiles and hear laughter everywhere you went.”

There was plenty of fun to be had with music, entertainment, and a mouth-watering feast of sausage sizzles and roast rolls from Singleton caterer Crackling Roast. For the kids, and kids at heart, there was a petting zoo. face painting, simulators, dodgem cars, tea cups, jumping castles, and laser tag.

At the Senior Leadership Team dunk tank, Amy said the mine’s leaders were dressed in some very interesting outfits. They all took multiple plunges into ice cold water to raise more than $4,000 for HVO’s five local charity truck partners.

“The dunk tank was a huge hit. It was great that our charity partners came to showcase to our workforce and their family members the services and support they provide to our community.”

Amy said pulling a day of this size doesn’t just happen.

“The Senior Leadership Team is extremely thankful to the many people involved in making the day a reality that ran smoothly. Our organising committee spent months planning the day. A big thanks to our volunteers on the day that showcased HVO with pride, the Maintenance North Workshop employees who helped setting up and packing up the event, and the local businesses providing the catering, electrical, infrastructure and cleaning for the event.

“Thank you to everyone who came, especially our suppliers and charity partners. It was a fantastic event to go down in the HVO history book. We will run another Family Day next year with crews who had to work to keep operations going on the day assured they will be able to attend.”