Santos helping Challenge keep cool

When the hardworking team at Challenge Recycling Narrabri were copping the 41-degree heat, while sorting Narrabri Shire’s recycling, their vocational support worker Kerry Holmes knew she needed to do something for her team …

After seeing some cooling towels with Santos logos on them she asked Challenge Narrabri manager Matt Keeffe if she should reach out to see if they could help out, and he was all for it.

Santos community and stakeholder advisor Abby McClure did the honours of dropping the cooling towels to Challenge Recycling Narrabri last Thursday, and even got a tour of the site facilities and Challenge chicken coups as well as meeting the 21-member team.

“The guys were over there last week sweating ridiculously, so I asked Matt if we could make a call to Santos to get some cooling towels here for people with disabilities,” said Kerry.

“I called up and spoke to Julie and she said she was new to the job but would get in contact with whoever she needed to, then she called Matt and said it’s been approved, and they’ll be here in a few days.”

Kerry was surprised and thankful for the quick response and went into Santos Narrabri office to introduce herself and say thank you on behalf of the team.

“This was the first time that Challenge had thought to reach out, and Santos was the first organisation we thought to reach out to,” said Kerry.

“I was stoked that the guys were going to benefit from the cooling towels because they work so hard, and they need them over there.”

All up, there are 21 people working at Challenge, and between 12-15 employees on any given day, working 7.5-hour shifts, and of those many workers, 12 of the team have a disability.

Brett Darley, Santos executive vice president Eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea was pleased that the Challenge team had reached out and was pleased to be able to provide some relief to workers.

Kerry Holmes, Abby McClure and Matt Keeffe.

“Helping each other out is what good neighbours do, and that’s why we were very happy to assist Challenge Disability Services by providing its staff with Active Cooling Towels,” said Mr Darley.

“These workers are making a difference to their community, which closely aligns with Santos values.

“Santos is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. Supporting local businesses like Challenge Disability Services is just one way we are creating a positive legacy in those communities.”

In the summer the team starts at 7.30am to attempt to beat the heat, but high temperatures and the immense task of dealing with Narrabri Shire recycling is gruelling work.

“It’s repetitious and heart wrenching work at times – we get some loads of recycling, and they are lovely, light and fluffy and the guys get through them in three quarters of an hour, then we get other parts of the shire and you wouldn’t believe what we find in there.

From bottles full of needles, nappies, animal carcasses and many other things that would not be classified as recyclable, the team has seen and dealt with it all.

“The guys will appreciate everything that the community donates, it gives them a lift, it’s recognition for the hard work we do,” said Kerry.

Kerry is an incremental part of the Challenge Narrabri team, and as a vocational support worker, works closely with the team to ensure their well-being and help them seek out new opportunities to learn more skills.

“We do a lot more here than people may know, we encourage the guys to develop the skills they have, we introduce new skills and build on those, find out what else they want to build with their lives, then educate and build on those skills,” said Kerry.

The Challenge team were thankful for Santos’ donation and appreciate the community’s efforts to look out for them and get involved.

“We can’t thank Santos enough for donating the towels to the guys, and the hats, it’s a small gesture but it means a lot to us all,” said Kerry.

Kerry Holmes with the chooks.

“Six of our members put them on right away, they were so pleased, it really put a smile on their faces.”

In the past, Rotary have helped build an extension for their back shed, have had some community members picking up rubbish along their fence line, or locals who help unload their recycling when they bring it in.

“It was just nice to do something small for the team, acknowledge that it’s hot out there and we know they are working hard.

Challenge would also be thrilled to have some reusable water bottles donated to their staff, or any plants as the staff are passionate about beautifying their front office space.

“We always welcome members of the community to come down and see what we’re all about, if they ever want to find a way to help out the team we’re more than happy to hear from everyone,” said Kerry.