Corporate Charity Challenge

In 2007, a 30-strong ANZ team from around Australia set themselves the
task to raise money for the Bidyadanga Community Library project in
Western Australia, ending with a four-day Kimberley trek and a detour to
visit the library.

Over $116,000 was raised, all of which will go towards books and the operation of the library for the next five years. The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community is the largest remote community in WA, with the nearest community library nearly 200 km away. The library project aims to make it easier for families in the community to access books and is sponsored by the Ian Thorpe Fountain for Youth and the State Library of WA.

Here are some thoughts from participants:

Terri Marsden
"Meeting the Bidyadanga Community, particularly the children, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The time I spent with the grade 3/4 class was the highlight of the trip for me � these kids were just so inquisitive, friendly and keen to learn everything they could."

Clinton Byrne
"This challenge not only stressed the importance of education levels within remote Aboriginal regions, but the importance of all of us beginning the education, knowledge and appreciation of our Indigenous past."

Sally Auld
"To be present at the opening of the community library was a real buzz � there were so many people from Bidyandanga present � the school children, the teachers, family members, people from the State library in Perth, the district librarian from Broome and even the local policeman."

Meeting the needs and interests of our people, customers, the environment, shareholders and the community is a balancing act that we’re working hard to get right.