Held over two days in August and September 2022, more than 200 MRM employees and contractors hit the fairways at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club for a day of fun, some wonderfully average golf, and to raise important funds all in the name of charity.

MRM continues its strong partnership with the foundation through its Charity Golf Day events, and is very supportive of its increased focus in recent years on improving health outcomes for babies and children in remote and regional areas of the Territory.

All funds raised from the charity events go directly to supplying much-needed paediatric equipment to hospitals and health services across the Territory.

Humpty’s focus includes initiatives such as replacing aging equipment – particularly in remote Aboriginal communities. More than 40 per cent of the Northern Territory’s population lives in areas classed as remote or very remote where the highest rates of neonatal and infant mortality rates in Australia occur.

“Every Territory kid deserves the best start in life, irrespective of where they live, so it’s incredibly important for us to partner with Humpty to deliver lifesaving medical equipment for children in hospitals and clinics across the Territory,” says Adam Hatfield, Manager Business Strategy and External Relations.

“We know that the NT Government doesn’t have an endless budget for health services. A large percentage of our workers come from remote communities, and we see first- hand the unique challenges these communities face.

“We’re committed to operating responsibly and making a positive contribution, and the Charity Golf Days is our opportunity to give back to communities and contribute to health care in the Territory.

“The MRM Charity Golf Day is a really fun day, and it allows our people the opportunity to have some fun while raising funds towards an important cause.

“Since partnering with Humpty, our Charity Golf Days has helped raise over $350,000, which is providing much needed medical equipment to remote communities.

This is a great example of the social benefit that private development, particularly mining, can provide to remote communities.”

MRM’s support for Humpty in the past two years has enabled the rollout of medical equipment and program including:

• The supply of EZ-1O drills to every Northern Territory health service (Top End and Central Australia). The drills enable quick intravenous access and are critical for use in emergency resuscitation of babies and children.
• An essential software upgrade to the central paediatric patient monitoring system at Royal Darwin Hospital, which treats more than 3000 children a year. The system allows for seamless connection between

the paediatric wards and other departments, and continuity of care for patients moving within the hospital or being transferred to local health services.

Humpty has raised $6 million over six years in the NT, supported by fundraising initiatives such as the MRM Charity Golf Days. In that time, Humpty has distributed 650 pieces of lifesaving equipment across the Territory, including many of the NT’s 600 communities and outstations.

Supplying critical equipment into these regions allows for babies and children to receive care quickly and closer to home.

“The significant cost of medical equipment means partnerships such as MRM’s are more important than ever for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in being able to send equipment and set up programs in the Northern Territory,” says Angela Garniss, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Humpty Dumpty Foundation. “By equipping hospitals and health clinics, no matter how remote, with the best medical equipment and care available, means sick babies and children are given the best chance to survive and thrive.”

The $150,000 raised at the 2022 McArthur River Mine Charity Golf Day will specifically be directed to:

• An infant resuscitation device for the maternity unit at Royal Darwin Hospital, which supports around 2300 births per year, including high-risk cases from across the NT and northern Western Australia.
• A heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen levels monitor for Gove Hospital. The monitor assesses vital signs in premature babies that require cardiac respiratory monitoring, and for monitoring sick neonate babies or children.

• A Vital Signs monitor for the Borroloola Community Heath Centre’s new women’s clinic. The monitor can accurately assess vital signs for babies and children, including temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels, and quickly indicates deterioration in condition.
• An Auditory Brainstem Response machine for Royal Darwin Hospital to screen more than 3000 babies per year for hearing problems or loss. The machine’s assessments provide early diagnosis of hearing problems, allowing for early intervention and avoidance of issues caused by hearing loss in babies and children. The new machine will replace equipment that is reaching the end of its lifespan.