Supporting The Blue Tree Project

At the end of May, at Mungalalu Truscott Airbase, a remote World War Two base in Western Australia, CHC Helicopter and our customer Shell came together with OSA, the Australian Defence Force and the North Kimberley Airport- Formerly Mungalalu Truscott Airbase- team and the local Aboriginal WGAC Community to support the Blue Tree Project.

The charitable organisation encourages conversations about mental health by painting trees a bright blue shade, seen by all that visit the remote airport on their rotating tours away from their loved ones. The trees are a visual reminder to check in on one another.

The event began with a traditional Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony led by WGAC community members, a spiritual cleansing for all participants and a way to ward off evil spirits and enable guests’ time on their land to be safe. For all who participated, it was an emotional moment.

Following the smoking ceremony, participants took it in turns to paint a dead tree blue, followed by the addition of white hand prints.

Cameron Dixon, Head of CHC Australia, said: “Thank you to the WGAC community for inviting us to participate and the North Kimberley Airport team for facilitating this touching event. Open conversations about mental health are crucial to foster a culture where everyone feels safe to share and seek support. I’m proud of the team for taking part and for their dedication to taking care of one another and our community”.

If you would like to learn more about the Blue Tree Project, visit https://lnkd.in/ek9tNbhj.