GFG supports healthy start to the day in Tasmania

LIBERTY Bell Bay smelter supports breakfast program

17 April 2023

The LIBERTY Bell Bay smelter is continuing its support for the Breakfast Program in Tasmania.  

Picking up the Kindergarten to Grade 2 (K2) program midway through last year, the GFG Alliance manganese alloy operation at Bell Bay in Tasmania has developed it further to provide the ingredients for a comprehensive, healthy and nutritional breakfast program for the school children at South George Town Primary.  

LBB’s contribution is the weekly delivery of fruit, milk, breakfast cereals and other healthy food during the school terms.  A commercial grade toaster was also purchased to assist in the delivery of the program.

LBB Health, Safety, Environment and Community Manager, Andrew Taylor said feedback from staff members indicates that all the benefits that would be expected from the breakfast program are now being achieved at a high level. 

With our focus on health and education in the community, this is a perfect endeavour for LIBERTY Bell Bay and something we are very proud of.

Andrew Taylor

“Evidence indicates that those children who are unable to access nutritious breakfasts in the home benefit enormously from school-based breakfast programs,” Mr Taylor said. 

“These benefits include increased energy and concentration in the classroom as well as trialling a choice of healthy foods that may not otherwise be accessible.  

“The important aspect of sharing food and engaging with others around a table is also viewed as important for the development of social skills and engagement with others.”

Mr Taylor said LBB was privileged to be able to provide the support that has enabled this program to continue and flourish. LBB community endeavours have a focus on health and education so this is not only a very appropriate program to support it is ‘heart-warming’ to see the benefits. 

“It’s a wonderful thing to see the hive of activity in the mornings as the staff go about preparing the breakfast with fruit, toast, milo, cereals etc,” Andrew said. 

“When you see them coming back for a second serve, full of energy with their cheeky little smiles … it really is heart-warming and a pleasure to be there. 

“With our focus on health and education in the community, this is a perfect endeavour for LIBERTY Bell Bay and something we are very proud of.” 

LIBERTY Bell Bay contributes to the Breakfast Program alongside with the Rio Tinto aluminium smelter at Bell Bay which supports the initiative at the Port Darymple School.