IN THE COMMUNITY

GWA takes its role as a good corporate citizen very seriously, and for this reason, is keen to support community events and organisations, particularly those with a sustainability or environmental focus.

The Company is also committed to forming strong relationships with the communities surrounding its operations and making a positive contribution wherever possible.

In early 2009, bushfires swept across Victoria, devastating 78 communities and 400,000 hectares of land. A total of 173 people lost their lives. The devastation also resulted in 2,029 homes being destroyed along with hundreds of businesses, five schools and kindergartens, three sporting clubs and numerous other buildings.

GWA wanted to play its part to support individuals and communities in towns and suburbs affected by these devastating fires.

We felt our best opportunity to help those who suffered such profound loss was during the reconstruction and recovery phase, which is presently underway.

Through a direct approach to the Victorian Government, GWA developed a plan to donate to the fit-out of two public information centres being built at Kinglake and Marysville, which were the two towns worst affected by the fires. These centres will provide vital information to home owners seeking to rebuild after the devastation of the fires.

Our Gainsborough, Caroma, Dux and Sebel businesses are each donating products including locks and door handles, all vitreous china products, taps, sinks, solar hot water systems and public seating for the two centres.

In 2009, GWA’s head office also contributed to numerous events and organisations including:

• Sponsorship of the ASX Thomson Reuters Charity Foundation, which raises funds for children’s and medical research charities
• Support for the Lions Club of Golden Valley which provides funds for local special needs children
• Donating to Variety Australia which contributes to various projects assisting the Variety Children’s Charity
• Contributing to the Rotary Club of Ipswich
• Donating to the Closeburn Rural Fire Brigade.
  

Individually, our separate businesses also supported several community events and organisations throughout the year.

Caroma Dorf was the Exclusive Bathroom Partner for Channel Nine’s Jack of All Trades TV series for 2009. Caroma assisted with the design, supply and installation of the two complete bathrooms within the Jack of all Trades house. The completed house was auctioned and all proceeds donated to Cystic Fibrosis Australia and the Mater Hospital Brisbane, raising in excess of $250,000.

Caroma Dorf was a sponsor of World Toilet Day in November 2008. This event was organised by the not-for-profit Engineers Without Borders organisation. The event featured a public art exhibition of 100 decorated toilet pans at Reddacliff Place and the Queen Street Mall in Brisbane. Designed by local creative industries and firms, the toilet pan exhibition was created to raise awareness of World Toilet Day. This event was established to raise awareness of global sanitation issues. Designed toilets were auctioned on eBay after the event with all proceeds raised donated towards funding sanitation projects in disadvantaged communities via the World Toilet Organisation and Water Aid Australia.

Caroma Dorf was a silver sponsor of the Australian Water Association’s fifth International Water Association specialist conference on efficient use and management of urban water. It was also a diamond sponsor of the Kitchen Bathroom Designer Institute (KBDI), a national organisation providing kitchen and bathroom designers with accreditation, training and professional development opportunities.

GWA is committed to forging strong relationships in the communities where it has its operations. With this objective in mind, our Gainsborough business is a sponsor of the Kyneton Football Club in Victoria, where one of our manufacturing operations is located. Fundraising for the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne is a further initiative of Gainsborough, which is supported by employee contributions.

Our Dux business was the sponsor of the 2008 race day at the famous Bong Bong Picnic Races. The race day is one of the biggest sporting events in the Southern Highlands attracting thousands of visitors from all over Australia. The 2008 race day was the 50th anniversary of the races being held at its current location, Wyeera, and was a huge success for Dux and its invited guests from Victoria, Queensland and parts of New South Wales.

Dux sponsored the Ute Muster at the local Moss Vale Show which attracts thousands of local visitors each year. Dux also purchased for its staff family passes to the Show so the whole family could enjoy the friendly country atmosphere of this very popular event. 

Dux is also sponsoring local sporting clubs – the Moss Vale Junior Dragons Rugby League Club, the Moss Vale Soccer Club and the Robertson Junior Rugby League Club.