An exciting new community education partnership between Comalco Aluminium and Launceston City Council’s Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) was launched last month. This new centre of educational excellence will provide an exciting, interactive learning environment for children aged between four and 12 years of age.
Launceston Mayor Janie Dickenson said the partnership will create an important educational resource for the state, particularly through school visits and school holiday activities. “Importantly, it also provides a new feature exhibit to be enjoyed by the local community and tourists alike.”
Comalco Chief Executive, Sam Walsh, said the partnership was a good example of what can be achieved when business and communities work together. “If we are to be successful in providing for a sustainable future, then we need to promote the value and role of science, education and creativity in everyday life,” he said.
QVMAG Director Chris Tassell said relationships with industry leaders such as Comalco assisted in the developing museums and art galleries around the world. “We are thrilled that Comalco has recognised the significance of the QVMAG in this way and look forward to working with them through the partnership,” he said.
Sam Walsh said Comlaco had a long held policy of supporting Tasmanian communities and in recent years had established several partnership agreements with non government organisations.
“As part of the partnership, QVMAG will also work with Comalco to archive the Bell Bay smelter and preserve heritage items and memorabilia collected over nearly 50 years of aluminium smelting in Northern Tasmania,” he said.
Alderman Dickenson said building and maintaining mutually rewarding relationships within our communities is an important feature of the way Council does business.
Other planned initiatives include a community research project collaborating with the Launceston City Council on a heritage project as part of Launceston’s It’s about Us celebrations in 2006, and undertaking a preliminary fauna survey of the Comalco owned land along the East Tamar River.
The initial term of the partnership in three years, Comalco is contributing both financial and other in kind resources including a cash injection of $97,500 in the first year.
