August 2008

Employee profile - Trevor Weisse

On 13 September Blair Athol Mine Senior Business Analyst Trevor Weisse will set off on an eight day, 1,600 kilometre bike ride from Brisbane to Home Hill, all in the name of charity.

The Smiling for Smiddy challenge, now in its third year, is in memory of keen tri-athlete, Adam Smiddy who died in 2006 from aggressive melanoma.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia is sponsoring the event this year, with all money raised going to the Mater Foundation for cancer research at Brisbane's Mater Hospital.

"We've had a number of families directly affected by cancer here at Blair Athol Mine, and one person who has survived melanoma," Trevor said.

"When I heard about the Smiling for Smiddy challenge last year, I knew I had to be involved and chose to ride from Emerald to Clermont.

"This year I'm riding the whole 1,600 kilometres. I know it'll be a challenge, but nothing compared to what cancer sufferers go through on a daily basis."

Trevor is currently cycling about 300 kilometres a week in preparation for the ride, but is no stranger to training, having competed in road and track cycling for the Rockhampton Cycling Club in the late 80s.

Trevor and the team at Blair Athol Mine hope to raise $20,000 this year and are anticipating some friendly inter-site rivalry.

"Rio Tinto Coal Australia has been very generous in sponsoring the Smiling for Smiddy challenge, and the site that raises the most money will receive a plaque for their efforts," Trevor said.

"We're certainly looking forward to some competition and hope employees dig deep for this worthy cause."

ON THE SPOT

• Name? Trevor Weisse, Senior Business Analyst, Blair Athol Mine
• What does your job entail? I coordinate the site's capital expenditure, plans and forecasts and prepare submissions to improve our understanding of the business.
• What do you do for fun? My favourite pastime involves pushing a bike around the countryside - of course it helps to have nice weather, good scenery and a tailwind.
• What cartoon character are you most like? On the bike you have to be part Road Runner, particularly when you realise there's a savage dog running out from someone's yard!

Rio Tinto Coal Australia has three riders participating in the entire Smiling for Smiddy challenge and eight day riders. Some riders have posted their profiles on the Smiling for Smiddy website. Click on the links below to find out more.

Full riders
Trevor Weisse (Blair Athol Mine)
Doug Hughes (Rio Tinto Coal Australia)
Jacqui Doel (Rio Tinto Services)

Day riders
Ian Poole (Rio Tinto Coal Australia)
Peter Rule (Clermont Mine)
Kenneth Gramm (Clermont Mine)
Janelle Clancy   (SKM - Clermont Mine)
Josh Adam (Blair Athol Mine)
Jeff McRae (Klinge - Blair Athol Mine)
Peter Kent (Hail Creek Mine)
Tim Huston (Kestrel Mine)                      

If you would like to sponsor a Rio Tinto rider, please click here to go to the Mater Foundation's website and follow the instructions. Remember to select the rider you wish to sponsor in the drop down menu.

Links
Smiling for Smiddy http://www.smilingforsmiddy.org.au/

Mater Foundation: http://www.materfoundation.com.au/item.asp?pid=7599