Support for local communities
National Group’s diverse sponsorship programs an important part of giving back.
As Marketing Executive of National Group, Kain Ford has developed the company’s sponsorship programs across sporting, cultural and mining-industry events – in regions and cities.
He says National Group’s recent bronze sponsorship of the International Legends of League in Moranbah in Central Queensland typifies what the program is about.
“National Group wants to do its bit to support local mining communities,” says Kain. “We were one of several companies that sponsored the International Legends of League match. It was a terrific event that raised money for a local charity and helped local sporting groups.”
The rugby league match was held in September as the Ethan Stevens Memorial Game. Ethan, an aspiring Moranbah football player, who reportedly dreamed of playing for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, lost his brave battle with leukemia just days before his 14th birthday.
Featuring many well-known former rugby league stars, including a few who played for the Queensland in the State of Origin, the match was a resounding success.
“National Group does a lot of work in the Bowen Basin,” says Kain. “The company and its employees there are part of the local community, so it’s important we give back. We also use event sponsorships to organise tickets for our employees and their families.”
National Group also sponsored a Legend of League match in Emerald in Central Queensland in February 2021, and hopes to continue supporting future league events in the region.
From mining awards to Supercar championship
National Group sponsorships range from high-profile industry and sporting events, to support for local communities in mining regions.
In mining events, National Group sponsors Australian, Queensland and Bowen Basin mining clubs and their award ceremonies. The company sponsors the Mine of the Year award category in the prestigious Australian Mining Prospect Awards.
In the Supercars Championship, National Group sponsors James Courtney in the Tickford Racing team. In 2019, National Group organised a race between a supercar and one of its Caterpillar 777 dump trucks, at its Nebo operations.
In community events, National Group sponsorships revolve around sport. For example, the company provided water bottles for rugby league and AFL players in Moranbah so they could comply with Covid guidelines that prohibited the use of shared bottles.
National Group also sponsors several community events and organisations in Muswellbrook in the Hunter Region of New South Wales – another community the company is part of.
Kain says National Group aims to sponsor one event each month. “A lot of our sponsorships have focused on sport in the past, principally because that’s a good fit with the communities we operate in, and with our customers and employees. We’d like to broaden that over time to help charities that do good work in other aspects of their community.”
Mental-health charities are a focus. “We’ve been looking at how National Group can support organisations and events that support people in mining communities who need help. It’s early days, but we’d like to do more to support health-focused charities.”
Drought is another focus, says Kain. “National Group has done some work in the past supporting communities that had droughts or bushfires. It’s an area we’re open to doing more in through sponsorships or other support. We think this is a good way to help local communities.”
Kain emphasises that much of National Group’s sponsorship program is small. “While we sponsor high-profile events like Supercars, we think it’s just as important to keep helping the local footy club in a mining town, or provide drought support when needed. Plenty of other organisations do the same, and it’s important National Group plays its part and gives back.”
Recent programs National Group has sponsored or been part of
- Australian Mining Prospect Awards sponsor. National Group sponsors the major award category- Mine of the Year.
- Brisbane Mining Club Gold Annual sponsor.
- Queensland Mining Awards sponsor. National Groups sponsors the Gala Dinner.
- Bowen Basin Mining luncheon sponsor.
- 2021 Supercars Team Sponsor – Tickford Racing and driver James Courtney.
- 2021 International Legends of League bronze sponsor.
- 2021 Moranbah Bulldogs AFL sponsor.
- 2021 Moranbah Miners Rugby League sponsor.
- Blackwater Rodeo sponsor.
- Middlemount Golf Open and Pro-Am sponsor.
- WA Mining Club event sponsor.
- 2020 Surfers Paradise AFL sponsor.
- Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Awards sponsor.
- Great cattle-dog muster sponsor.
- Muswellbrook Rotary club golf day sponsor.
- Australian Drought support.
