Late last year, the RITC had the opportunity to visit Wirrpanda Supplies, a chemical supply company based locally in the Balcatta area. Wirrpanda Supplies was created on the back of the ambition of former AFL star David Wirrpanda to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and build sustainable communities through training and employment.
David Wirrpanda is well known in WA for his football career with the West Coast Eagles. Away from the field, David has directed his passion and dedication back into the supporting and improving the lives of indigenous youth with the formation of the Waalitj Foundation (formerly known as the Wirrpanda Foundation).
David’s latest venture, Wirrpanda Supplies, is a joint-venture, established four years ago between David and Chemform, a 40-year-old Australian company that manufactures and supplies cleaning products around the country. The JV was established to locally manufacture and supply cleaning products to range of consumers including mining operations and healthcare providers. A critical component to the company’s success is the partnerships it forms with the local communities and the return of a percentage of each sale back to the Waalitj Foundation.
David says of Wirrpanda Supplies that its mission is to “Empower and build capacity amongst Aboriginal individuals, their families and their communities …. we are engaged in the local communities and have previously shipped chemicals like hand sanitiser up to Fitzroy Crossing when they were in need”.
Wirrpanda Supplies mission is to provide a pathway through the Waalitj Foundations for young people to complete their training and transition directly into employment, and to contribute back three per cent of all sales to the Foundation.
The joint venture also seeks to recognise Aboriginal people’s profound and special connections to lands and waters by preserving the environment at every opportunity. Wirrpanda Supplies offers a range of environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals under the name Wirra Green.
(Pictured – RITC Manager, Amanda Hamilton with David Wirrpanda and Frank Tzavellas ( National Business Development Manager) at Wirrpanda Supplies in Balcatta.)
