A crowd of almost 17,000 people acknowledged the Hunter Valley’s mining community at McDonald Jones Stadium at the weekend.
And, for good measure, they witnessed a couple of cracking games of rugby league, too.
The Voice for Mining Family Day returned on Sunday, celebrating a decade-long partnership between the Newcastle Knights and NSW Mining.
To mark the 10th anniversary, the men’s team wore a special edition of the now famous hi-vis jersey when they tackled the Canberra Raiders.
But, unfortunately, the Knights couldn’t ice the cake.
After leading 22-8 at the break, Newcastle failed to hold off a fast-finishing Canberra outfit 28-22.
The NRL club had better luck in the NRLW opener, with the Knights upsetting powerhouse Brisbane Broncos 32-14 to kick off coach Ronald Griffiths’ reign.
Over the past 10 years, the Voice for Mining Family Day has become a major community event that commemorates the contribution of NSW mining families and the good things the industry brings to the region.
The NSW Minerals Council is a major sponsor of the Knights’ NRL squad and the NRLW side.
“This partnership means so much to mining families and communities across NSW,” CEO Stephen Galilee said.
“The first Voice for Mining Family Day took place in 2013 and it has grown every year.
“Our mining families love seeing the Knights in the hi-vis jersey and they’re proud of what it represents.
“During the past decade, tens of thousands of mine workers and Knights fans have celebrated together at our annual Voice for Mining Day.
“So, we were excited to see the team in the new hi-vis jersey to mark our milestone.”
Newcastle CEO Philip Gardner said the NSW Minerals Council’s continued commitment to the club’s men’s and women’s sides cemented one of the strongest alliances in the game.
“Mining is central to the prosperity of our region, vital to our state and a big part of the Hunter Valley fabric,” he explained.
“As a major sponsor of our men’s team and a foundation sponsor of the women’s side, the NSW Minerals Council is integral to supporting our players, our administration and our community.”
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