Tahmoor tribute helps promote safety message

Balloons on show and a minute’s silence observed

The SIMEC Mining Tahmoor Coking Coal operation in NSW has joined a Wollondilly Shire initiative to spread a road safety message and commemorate the 12-month anniversary of a car crash at nearby Buxton that resulted in five local teenagers losing their lives.

The GFG Alliance operation has placed five bunches of coloured balloons at the front of the Tahmoor mine as part of the Think of the Five, arrive ALIVE campaign that was launched by the father of one of the teenagers. 

Each balloon represents the favourite colour (pink, orange, purple, blue and silver) of the five teenagers, aged between 14 and 16, who were killed in a horror crash near Buxton, just south of Picton, nearly 12 months ago.

Just like the Safety Connect message, we need to recognise the importance of intervening if someone is at risk, both at work and at home

Tahmoor WHS Manager Phil Jones

To further mark the anniversary and reinforce the safety message, Tahmoor WHS Manager Phil Jones said work crews were asked to share a minute’s silence at the start of their shift, to think of the five, the unnecessary loss of life and impact it has had on their families, the community and all involved.

“We’ve asked everyone to please take some time to think about people in your life, especially any young drivers, and think about how you can talk to them about making good decisions as either a driver or a passenger in a car,” Phil said.

“Just like the Safety Connect message, we need to recognise the importance of intervening if someone is at risk, both at work and at home.”

The main streets of Picton, Tahmoor, Thirlmere and Buxton were awash with the balloons and along Picton Road with the colours also adorning dozens of residential letterboxes.

For more information on the safety campaign, go to the Think of the Five arrive ALIVE facebook page.