Tomago Aluminium's employees and contractors are no strangers to throwing their weight behind charitable causes, particularly those affecting their own communities.
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So it came as little surprise when seeing the impact of the bushfires raging across NSW they established a bushfire appeal and yet again gave generously out of their own pockets.
While fires were rampaging across the state, staff initiated the Tomago Aluminium Bushfire Appeal and donated $21,000.
Tomago Aluminium, the company, added another $29,000 to take the total donation to $50,000 which was on Monday donated to the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The funds will be divided between the Raymond Terrace, Medowie, Thornton and Salt Ash/Williamtown brigades.
"Looking after each other is what Australians do and we are proud to support the Rural Fire Service," Tomago Aluminium CEO Matt Howell said.
"The RFS has worked tirelessly over the last few months and it is good to be able to show our support.
"We have a large number of employees onsite who are Rural Fire Service volunteers so it was a cause that resonated with so many of us."
RFS district coordinator for infrastructure, Inspector Glenn Byrnes, said the money would be divided equally between the four brigades who would determine how it would be spent.
"Those units will identify where and how the money will be allocated and spend it accordingly, possibly on their stations or on equipment such as thermal imaging cameras, portable radios or computer equipment that will help them into the future," Inspector Byrnes said.
He added that the 2019/2020 bushfires were unprecedented in their size and ferocity and thanked both Tomago Aluminium and the broader corporate sector not only for the financial support but also for the understanding given to volunteer firefighters within their ranks.
In 2018 Tomago Aluminium's workforce came together to support farmers struggling with the ongoing drought, collecting $25,000 for the Buy a Bale campaign. That sum was also matched by the company and became a $50,000 donation.
Every year Tomago Aluminium employees and management also donate more than $50,000 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and more than $100,000 to a number of local charities and community events.
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