If you have an upcoming community event you'd like promoted through Pilbara Health, please give us a call or send us an email at health@riotinto.com with all the details.
For Monique Long of Tom Price, cocktails by the pool are not her idea of a holiday. Instead, Monique is readying to climb Mera Peak, the highest trekking peak in Nepal, in October.
If successful, Monique will be the first Western Australian woman on the peak and with her partner Eric, the first couple to reach the summit.
In preparation, the pair run five days a week, hike up Mount Bruce and Mount Nameless, walk the dog and finish with some weight training.
If you are exhausted just reading this, consider the challenge ahead; hiking 3 to 8 hours a day and carrying a heavy backpack at altitudes up to 6430 metres above sea level. Monique says she needs to push herself so that she is both physically and mentally prepared for this 'hilliday'.
"To get through high altitude conditions, I need to be the fittest I can," she says.
So, for those of us "less extreme" in our holiday pursuits, why?
"I get bored easily and the rush of endorphins you get when you accomplish something truly amazing is worth the effort," she said.
Pilbara Iron employees gathered at Paraburdoo Hospital at 6am on the 7th of November to take part in the Pedestrian Council of Australia's annual Walk to Work Day.
Following stretch and warm up exercises led by a Prime Health and Wellness consultants (below), the walkers, some of whom were also participating in Pilbara Health's Pedometer Challenge, made the 7km trek to the mine-site within the hour.
Flanked by emergency management support staff and the occasional police drive-by to ensure their safety, the posse arrived on-site to enjoy a hearty breakfast laid on by walk organisers, Pilbara Health's Trudi Spawton and the Prime Health and Wellness consultants.
Walk to Work day aims to promote regular walking as a healthy activity, reducing reliance on private motor vehicles and promoting the use of public transport, also improving air quality by reducing unnecessary vehicle emissions.
After weeks of training and almost a year of planning, the 5th Annual Exmouth Games went off with a bang, with around 200 participants and spectators gathering to see 12 Rio Tinto teams battle it out for the top title.
The competitive energy was in top gear with Argyle Diamonds a new team in the mix but this was not enough to tumble the West Angeles Rescue Team. The team took home the trophy with the best overall score across all heats for the second year running.
For all teams to perform at their peak, participants were led through a group warm-up session and were offered sunscreen, fruit snacks and water to keep them energised throughout the day. Hydration testing was also offered to keep competitors aware of the need to replenish to keep them at their optimum.
"It was great how everyone gave it a go and got involved in the spirit of the games. The challenge is unique in that it promotes learning and information sharing by allowing competing teams to observe their peers from other sites," said Risk and Emergency Management Advisor Eddie Coyle.
To celebrate five years of the games, top ranking ambulance officer Superintendent Keith Williams, from the New South Wales Special Casualty Access Team S.C.A.T, opened the games with a really inspirational speech on his personal experience with the Beaconsfield Mine Rescue operation.
Superintendent Williams was directly involved in the request for assistance, deployment of tasks, pre-hospital care, incident command, integration of other agencies and provision of support structures in the operation.
Tom Price was on the move in September holding a Walk to Work event to promote healthy exercise. 18 participants (below) took part with a vast majority from the West Pilbara Technical Services department, encouraged by Andrew Swift.
"It was great to see so many people get up early and rise to the challenge. We covered 5 km in approx 50 minutes so it was a real heart starter and a great way to start the day," said Andrew.
Prime Health and Wellness Consultant Nikki Stone started the walk with great warm up exercises and cool down at the end. As a reward for their efforts, all participants were treated to a free healthy breakfast of fruit salad and yoghurt.
If you would like to follow suit on your site, contact your health and safety advisor or healthy lifestyle coordinator.