Liebherr-Australia has donated AU$50,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, following the success of its ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign at Hancock Iron Ore’s Roy Hill mine in Western Australia.
The donation was revealed at an event attended by executives from Liebherr-Australia and Hancock Iron Ore, with the cheque officially unveiled on site at the Pilbara mine.
The initiative centred on a customised pink Liebherr R 9800 excavator, which was delivered to Hancock Iron Ore earlier this year. The machine’s counterweight and bucket were painted bright pink by Liebherr-Australia’s fabrication team to symbolise support for breast cancer research. Throughout June, the excavator’s performance was monitored, with the final donation amount linked to the number of buckets of material moved.
“Liebherr-Australia is proud to support Gina Rinehart’s initiative and Hancock Iron Ore’s continued efforts to support breast cancer research and improve patient care in Australia. Our ‘Every Bucket Counts’ campaign with Hancock Iron Ore reflects how we support our people and communities and demonstrates that Liebherr-Australia’s relationship with our customers goes beyond supplying mining equipment,” said Trent Wehr, managing director of Liebherr-Australia.
Dale Harris, chief operating officer of Hancock Iron Ore, praised the collaboration. He said, “The partnership between Liebherr-Australia and Hancock Iron Ore is defined not just by exceptional operational outcomes, but by a shared passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of women and families affected by breast cancer. Hancock Iron Ore executive chairman, Dr Gina Rinehart AO, leads from the front in our commitment to breast cancer support, pioneering a host of world firsts, including the introduction of pink haul trucks and locomotives as bold symbols of the fight against this deadly disease. She also created the first ever breast cancer support charity in Australia back in the early 1990s. Our collaboration with Liebherr-Australia on the striking pink counterweight and bucket on the R 9800 is another global first.”
The excavator’s strong performance exceeded production targets during June, allowing Liebherr-Australia to reach the AU$50,000 figure for donation.
The pink R 9800 was the second of three Liebherr excavators delivered to Roy Hill in recent months, joining an R 9400 in late 2024 and a second R 9800 in May 2025.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in our partnership with Hancock Iron Ore so far and are excited to see what comes of this partnership in the future,” added Wehr.
Liebherr-Australia has also released a video highlighting the teamwork behind the campaign and celebrating the donation’s contribution to world-class breast cancer research.
