A truck from Norton Gold Fields, adorned with artwork by local artist Danielle Champion, led the annual St Barbara’s Parade this year. As the naming rights sponsor of the parade, Norton Gold Fields aimed to celebrate community spirit and cultural heritage. The event commenced with a traditional Chinese dragon dance, symbolizing the invitation of good fortune and the dispelling of negative energy.
The truck, a Komatsu HD1500-8, showcased Champion’s artwork, which initially graced a large water tank at the Paddington Gold site. This site recently marked the 40th anniversary of its mill. Champion expressed her pride at having her work featured in such a significant context. “Seeing my art on Norton’s parade truck and the Paddington site is a proud and humbling experience,” she stated.
Champion’s design draws inspiration from the region’s rich gold mining heritage and the connection between the land and the Kapurn people. “Through this design, I hoped to express a story of resilience, collaboration, and shared prosperity,” she explained. The piece reflects both Norton Gold Fields‘ achievements and the company’s responsibility to the land and community as it moves forward.
Wei Lin, chief executive of Norton Gold Fields, emphasized the company’s desire to lead the parade with a message of pride and gratitude. “Bringing our trucks, including the newly decorated truck featuring Danielle’s artwork, was our way of celebrating Kalgoorlie-Boulder and acknowledging the people who make this region unique,” he said.
Lin highlighted the importance of Champion’s artwork in representing the story of the Indigenous community and their historical connection to the land. “As we reflect on four decades of operations at Paddington, it was crucial for us to honour the cultural landscape we operate within and the communities who have supported us along the way,” he noted.
The public display of Champion’s work on the parade truck and at the Paddington site serves as a commitment to fostering relationships with traditional owners and the broader community. “By putting the artwork front and centre, we wanted to demonstrate that our future is built on partnership, understanding, and genuine appreciation of local culture,” Lin added.
The St Barbara’s Parade not only celebrated the heritage of the region but also showcased the collaborative spirit between Norton Gold Fields and the local community, reinforcing their shared values and aspirations for the future.
