Jersey raffle raises money for hospital

During the recent State of Origin Series, NCS Hidden Valley organised to raise money for Bulolo Hospital by holding a raffle, with the prize being a Limited
Edition Wally Lewis Jersey. Once client MMJV found out about the initiative they generously offered to match the donation Kina for Kina.
David Wissink from MMJV said “We appreciate NCS taking this initiative and being part of our team involved with community-focused projects.
This is very pleasing, giving something back to the community. Well done NCS!”

NCS’ Rohan Price was thanked by a local staff member who passed on a message from the local community – “I would like to thank you so much on behalf of the rest of us working in this mine and those at home, for your kind assistance. You will be richly blessed for helping.” Bulolo Hospital used the funds to purchase much needed items like sheets, pillows, mattresses and blankets

Scenes from Sites – Christmas 2010

Celebrating 35th PNG Independence Day- Hidden Valley style

The way we celebrated 35^th PNG Independence Day – 16 September 2010

All around Papua New Guinea, NCS people celebrated the 35^th Independence Day with great pride, joy and of course, feasting!

NCS staff had the awesome responsibility to prepare and serve a feast and a celebration – for their clients, guests and colleagues at our sites across PNG. We hope you enjoy some photos from our celebration album and a few special stories too.

At Hidden Valley:Praise from the top at Hidden Valley

The following words from MMJV’s General Manager Mark Mitchell say it all – about the feast prepared at Hidden Valley.

This is to let you all know that I think everyone did have a very beautiful day yesterday to celebrate the 35^th Independence anniversary of PNG. It is good everyone has gathered in harmony to celebrate the PNG day. I am happy and very pleased to have this opportunity to work side by side with you all.

I am very thankful to NCS for making the day happen with a variety of food yesterday. That was a very top one.

I am looking forward to a continuing good social and working relationship here at Hidden Valley and in PNG.

Thank you very much.

Our partners include NCS in training programs

When NCS enters into a contract with another company to provide services, we become partners in the business we service. Whether it’s a mine developer, a Government institution or a commercial business, our commitment is to provide the best quality services to our clients whilst ensuring the safety and protection of our staff and the wider community that support our Client.

That’s what a true partnership is about at NCS.

The mining project sites are usually located in the remotest areas of the country and we have to remind ourselves that NCS, as contractors, are visitors to these sites. We must ensure that we are working in accordance with the safety standards established by our Clients as well as maintaining our own.

Safety on sites is “Namba Wan” and each Project owner has site specific rules and regulations. It is beneficial for the developer that we ensure that our staff also understand what is required of them as part of the remote mining community.

Accordingly, our mining development clients often invite our staff to participate in their safety training programs. It makes practical sense. Should an incident arise, the more people on site trained to respond, improves the chance of a qualified person being in the vicinity to respond to an emergency.

Training at two sites: In recent months, Barrick at Kainantu has included NCS staff on safety training programs including the Courageous Safety Leadership and First Aid and MMJV at Hidden Valley, inclusion in their First Aid Training.

At Hidden Valley with MMJV,  trainer Allyson Jo Toro ran a St John’s First Aid training session for 8 NCS staff. All participants were volunteers who undertook the half day training program in their own time.

The goal was to teach the basics of first aid and how to help in the event that a first aid response is needed. First aid saves lives. In this first training session topics and practical skills covered included:

• CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation)
• Mouth to mouth
• Heart massage
• Recovery position

Follow-up training will be offered to complete basic training and we understand that graduates of this course will be eligible to do the Advanced First Aid course.

Catering Manager John Cole said “We are always happy when our staff take on extra training in an effort to increase their knowledge and abilities, it is good for NCS and better for the staff members.”

He went on to say that this additional opportunity helped to further “bond” our team, which already work well together.

“Sharing this experience has bought them more than just first aid knowledge. It has given them the added confidence in their ability to handle situations as well as a closer team spirit”.

MMJV’s Ms Jo Toro said that it was a joy to have such enthusiastic and eager students. “I am proud you have a good energetic team out there who are ready to promote Health and Basic First Aid and also attend to emergencies back at their workplaces. Not only that, they express gratitude to have learnt a new skill which is valuable to them for life.”

“They were good ambassadors for NCS. Any staff following will have big shoes to fill.”

At Kainantu with Barrick

It’s a similar story up at Kainantu. Ten NCS participants passed their Health and Basic First Aid Training with “flying colours”.

Barrick trainer Douglas Ned said that he was impressed to see them doing the steps of CPR. “Theory and Practical assessment were done and participants examined to ensure they understand the concept of CPR – ensuring that if someone has collapsed, cannot breath and poor blood circulating, that they can get someone breathing before they are referred to hospital.”

NCS remains committed to continuous improvement and the development of all NCS employees. Health and Safety Training is a vital key in this process and is under constant review by NCS senior management

Through mud and flood – the road to site

When the only route to site is across a flooded river…

During the days of heavy rains at the end of January the road from Madang to Ramu literally washed away. Literally chasing the rains and the rising rivers, the NCS Raibus team needed to get urgent supplies up to the Butua Site as it had been isolated, cut off by the Ramu river which had broken its banks in many places a week before.

When the road to Ramu washed away, NCS found ways around getting across

In the true sense of ‘Meeting the Challenge – Every Day’, Project Manager Rob Bennetts said “ We had been getting supplies through by transferring to dugout canoes then heading down stream & loading on to another vehicle. We did not get a photo of NCS staff loading canoes as the river was rising again and we did not want to be stuck on the other side of the river”

“At one point we did decide to cross the river and next time – if  it keeps raining like this – we might consider taking our boat The Warria. You can imagine how difficult this was” he added

Meeting the Challenge: through the MUD

A typical example of how NCS go the extra mile to Meeting the Challenge – Every Day is the regular occurrence of roads being washed away in PNG’s monsoonal rains.

In early January Brian Curran and Corey Polume travelled from Lae to Wau to meet with Lydia Waengo from Wau Fresh Produce and approximately 30 Buang growers to discuss ongoing business of supply to NCS projects.

On the way they were delayed by at least five landslides on the Wau Road and a taxi truck that had also become stuck fast in mud, blocking road access both ways.

Brian (in the driver’s seat) and Corey (knee deep in mud) tried to pull the truck back with the winch on the NCS 4WD, but had no luck moving it. After 90 minutes of trying, an MMJV ‘Troopie’ was able to pull the truck forward and out ably assisted by a group of locals pushing the vehicle.

Carving out new skills at Hidden Valley

At Hidden Valley, NCS’s Catering Manager John Cole, has begun teaching the lost art of fruit and vegetable carving to kitchen staff on site. John wanted to improve the presentation of the servery and buffets, particularly for the increasing number of special functions up at Hidden Valley. He decided to investigate teaching carving techniques and skills to staff. Carving requires special techniques and instruments to make those intricate shapes and flourishes out of fruit and vegetables.

John purchased some specialist carving knives and an instructional book and CD set from Thailand where this ancient art form started.

John initially held training sessions with five apprentices as part of NCS’ Apprentice Training Program that he coordinates on site. He  concentrated on special garnishing pieces like centrepieces that work well for buffets, as well as some of the basics that are used for daily decorations and salads.

“A lot of natural talent has been unearthed with this particular skill and I believe it should be nurtured.” said John. “This is becoming a dying art in the mainstream catering field and it’s becoming more specialised due to the labour cost and time taken to complete the more intricate designs.” he said

“By teaching our apprentices this extra skill they may not learn elsewhere we are strengthening their preparation for their futures in the industry as competent tradespeople” he continued

The magnificent results speak for themselves.

Given the interest and aptitude shown by both the apprentices and the speed with which they have picked it up, John said he will continue to teach these skills and will bring back a wider selection of knives and tools to site.

“The chefs, kitchen hands and stewards are also interested in trying it out, I think NCS will soon become the experts in the country for this creative skill” he said.

Well done to John Cole for taking the great initiative and for sharing your passion for this art form, and to our budding carving experts! Your work will be on display for MANY to enjoy – for years to come!

BilDevCo Landowners receive first dividend payments

NCS Kainantu assisted with the dividends directly to the 10 Landowner clans that make up joint venture partnership, BilDevCo Limited.

NCS Commercial Business Manager, Romeo Robinson, was invited to Bilimoia 1 village for the occasion by Jackson Yuave, Barrick Business Development Manager.

In his speech to Shareholders and Directors, Romeo thanked them for the invitation and stated “NCS is a PNG company and we are glad to be in a joint venture arrangement with you. We have been waiting for a meeting like this, especially to witness dividend payments to shareholders in the village”.

He continued “This distribution of benefits is one we’ve worked hard to earn together. We hope this is the first of many opportunities for NCS to celebrate the success of our businesses with our many JV businesses” said Romeo.

“We run our joint venture business in a transparent manner, and I look forward to the partnership continuing in the years ahead” Romeo continued.

Proactive Response to Cholera Outbreak

As news of the Cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea spread, NCS Project Managers took immediate and proactive steps to ward off any on-site threat.

When news broke of a State of Emergency being implemented due to the outbreak in Wasa, Morobe Province, NCS acted immediately to ensure steps were taken to prevent any occurrence of the highly contagious disease.

An urgent memo was distributed to all sites at 8 am and within the hour news was received that water testing and reinforcement of hygiene standards and procedures were immediately actioned.

When Cholera was reported to have spread to Lae it caused some panic, particularly for staff and students of the University of Technology, one of NCS’s sites. In order to address this, an information forum was convened by the student body to inform and reassure that the issue was being taken care of with the utmost urgency.

NCS Project Manager, Allan Atava, was asked to present at the forum. “My role was to give assurance and guarantee that their meal at the mess was safe for consumption” Allan said. “I spoke about the systems we have in place in food management and the guidelines we follow in food and personal hygiene”. Three doctors also presenting spoke specifically about the disease, its symptoms and precautionary measures.

Over 1,000 people attended the forum. Marcus Gosling, NCS Executive Director, said “After initial talk of closing the University down, the outcome was very good. It was an important way to calm people down after a day of panic.”

NCS Hidden Valley Crew gets ‘Fit for Work’

When one of the NCS Hidden Valley crew was told by his doctor that his weight was causing major health problems, the whole team took up the challenge to help him shape up.

The result is the ‘Fit for Work’ program, which commenced in early December and involves all NCS employees at Hidden Valley (unless they have a medical condition).

Every morning before work starts, the team walks for 15 minutes together.  Whilst Sundays are an exercise free day, the team still gets together at lunchtime for a ‘healthy choice’ meal, involving education about portion sizes and dietary balance.

Hidden Valley staffs are leading the way with enthusiasm and commitment, and real results are being seen. Whilst the walk was originally difficult for some of the larger members of the team, it is becoming easier every day, and now everyone looks forward to the morning sessions.

An additional goal is that staff will pass their newfound learning to children in their villages, helping them to also practice a healthy lifestyle and address the growing childhood obesity problem in the area.

The ‘Fit for Work’ program has also resulted in some entertaining moments, like the day when passing cars slowed down near the walkers, who were asked if they were going on strike because they were all marching up the road together!

Well done to the NCS Hidden Valley Project Managers for showing great leadership, initiative and motivating their team toward a healthier lifestyle!