October is the time for our community to come together and celebrate with some fantastic events on the calendar this month.

The Coal Festival is finally back! After a much too long hiatus the festival returns this month with a calendar of events, including the not to be missed Singleton Community Day on Saturday October 28.

But you don’t have to wait that long to celebrate with the community as the Bengalla Community Open Day is back on Saturday October 22 at Muswellbrook Showground. That’s right, two fantastic community days that both guarantee a fun day out for the entire family.

While these events are all about encouraging the community to come together for a day full of good times, they also aim to promote our industry and highlight the contribution it makes to the region. Every edition we share just a few of the contributions mining companies make to our community and this month is no different.

Yancoal investment in communities is shown through their Mount Thorley Warkworth and Ashton Coal’s Community Support Programs. The programs provide financial assistance to local groups working in the areas of health, social and community, environment, education, and training. As a large employer in the area, they believe in the value of supporting grass roots groups and organisations to grow and expand, thereby strengthening our community.

Supporting the community is not only done through funding or donations. Take for example the Hunter Valley Operation’s (HVO) apprentices who recently put their trade skills to good use to help spruce up the Singleton Community Garden. Every year HVO’s apprentices support a community project which not only provides a benefit to the community, but is also a great learning opportunity for the apprentices.

Whether you realise it or not, everyone in the community benefits from the contribution mining makes to our region. So get out there and celebrate it!