A WORKPLACE culture built around family and giving back to the community is the aim of machinery manufacturer Komatsu.
In an effort to live these values, each year the company annually works with the Salvation Army to collect presents for children in need in their local community.
Komatsu, executive general manager, Colin Shaw said the aim was to ensure all kids received a gift and a bit of happiness at Christmas no matter what their circumstances.
“Over the last three years we have supported over 600 families, and it is part of our Dig Deep Campaign for Christmas, to make sure we are helping families in our community area,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the Christmas appeal was part of an overarching community program called Live Your Dream, where the company asks employees to apply for support for community projects.
“We provide about $100,000 to this each year, and we have a number of employees that do something essential in the community which Komatsu supports and aids,” he said.
“It gives the people of Komatsu the opportunity to do something they don’t have the money for or don’t have the time for.
“Its a fantastic culture program in community areas.”
Mr Shaw said other activities the company has carried out this year included offering to service and fix farm equipment.
“Through our branches in NSW we offered the ability for local farmers to ring our branch and say they needed their digger or excavator fixed, then we would go out and fix them on weekends or outside of business hours,” he said.
Mr Shaw said he ultimately hoped kids in the local are they supported might grow up and join the Komatsu team.
“It is part of our building a community with family values,” he said.
