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Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer has declared yesterday’s Handover Event as a “wonderful day for Whyalla”.
About 500 people turned out for Friday’s official handover of the Arrium group after its purchase by Liberty House which is part of the London-based GFG Alliance owned by the Gupta family. The special guests and speakers included South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, Senator for South Australia Anne Ruston and new owner Sanjeev Gupta along with several members of his family.
The event, attended by many steelworks employees, was held at Wilson Park in Whyalla with speeches, a flag raising ceremony and a march to Ada Ryan Gardens where further speeches were given by union representatives.
Mayor Breuer gave an emotional speech and confessed it would be hard to hold back the tears on such a day. It was a day she said was the best ever in her time in Whyalla.
“It is such a significant day in Whyalla’s history,” Mayor Breuer said.
“I was born and grew up in Whyalla and I don’t remember feeling so good about a day in this town.
“This is most wonderful day ever, it is a wonderful day for Whyalla.”
Mayor Breuer welcome the Gupta family to Whyalla and declared them part of the community just as the community would be a part of their company. The Mayor described the last 18 months as “awful” and said many thought “we were done” but things have now turned with the new owners of the town’s steelworks.
“With the sale finalised, what a great future we have ahead of us,” Mayor Breuer said.
“We are certainly at a turning point in our history.
“We are a steel town and we’ve got steel backbones, we’ve got through this as a community, we’ve held together as a community.
“We’ve turned the corner and we’ve now also got a number of new companies interested in establishing here.
“Things have changed and we’re certainly moving forward.”
Mayor Breuer thanked the whole community of Whyalla, city councillors, State Member for Giles Eddie Hughes, Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey and the Federal Government. But she reserved special thanks for State Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis for his role in supporting Whyalla during the last 18 months when the sale of the steelworks was uncertain.
“The city of Whyalla owes a debt to Tom Koutsantonis, he has been our champion,” Mayor Breuer said.
“He has told it straight and been the backbone for us.
“I must also thank the Premier Jay Weatherill and the state government, they played a significant role in keeping our heads above water and the premier has been involved the whole way through.”
The final thanks went to Arrium administrator KordaMentha for brokering the deal with Liberty House and also to Whyalla Steelworks executive general manager Theuns Victor.
“I must with great sincerity thank KordaMentha for their role without them we wouldn’t be here today,” Mayor Breuer said.
“We’d be packing our bags, leaving our houses empty and walking away. I’m humbled by the effort they’ve put into this city.
“And Theuns has been a strong guiding light in a difficult time.”
Joking with new owner Sanjeev Gupta and declaring it was our role to teach him how to be an Aussie, after he declared Australia will be his home of the next couple of years, Mayor Breuer welcomed the Gupta family and thanked them for having faith in Whyalla.
“Whyalla always a working class town and certainly workers wellbeing has been foremost in our history,” Mayor Breuer said.
“I’ve got no doubt this will continue with Mr Gupta and his company, now our company.
“I was so thrilled when he said ‘I want Whyalla to be a place where people live and work not fly in and fly out’.
“That’s just we need, that’s what we want.
“Thanks for having faith in us, we welcome you and look forward to working with you.”
Top picture: Senator for South Australia Anne Ruston, Jay Weatherill, Eddie Hughes, Sanjeev Gupta, Mayor Lyn Breuer and Rowan Ramsey.
Inset picture: Mayor Lyn Breuer gives an emotional speech at the handover event.