ART ON STEEL was a celebration and a chance to support the magnificent work of the State Emergency Service's 53,000 volunteers

Leading Australian artists enthusiastically created a series of artworks on COLORBOND® steel which were taken on a national tour before being auctioned to raise money for the SES.

Through the sale of the paintings, donations and sales of limited edition prints, $517, 882 was raised, which will go to support the State and Territory Emergency Service nationally.

In recognition of this important milestone, BHP Steel launched the innovative national community arts project - ART ON STEEL, in support of one of Australia's great volunteer organisations, the State Emergency Service (SES).

The SES were chosen to receive all proceeds raised by the ART ON STEEL program due to the significant connection between the SES as one of Australia's foremost emergency support networks and the reputation of COLORBOND® steel as one of the Australian public's premier means of shelter.

ART ON STEEL featured the work of leading Australian artists who created paintings and sculptures - using pieces of COLORBOND® steel cut from the five millionth tonne. Artists and sculptors who have agreed to take part in this historic project include Rolf Harris, David Larwill, Pro Hart, John Moriarty, Kathleen Petyarre, Mambo artist David McKay, Wendy Sharpe, Alun Leach Jones, Peter Kingston, Ginger Riley, David Wadelton and Mirka Mora.

BHP Steel showcased the artworks during May and June 2001, visiting 11 state capitals and regional centres, including Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin, Perth, Albany, Adelaide, Cheltenham and Melbourne.

The ART ON STEEL paintings and sculptures were then auctioned at a special celebration dinner in Melbourne in June with 100% of the proceeds going to the volunteers of the SES.

President BHP Steel Kirby Adams said "ART ON STEEL gave the Company an opportunity to give back to the Australian public in recognition for the support they have shown COLORBOND® steel for nearly 35 years. "It is also a wonderful way of raising awareness and support for the superb and tireless work carried out by the State Emergency Service, in what is very fittingly the International Year of the Volunteer," he said.

"The auction was the culmination of a fantastic program that has given us the means of raising funds for one of our most worthy and essential nationwide community support services," he said.

BHP Steel President Kirby Adams presents Major-General Hori Howard, Chair of the Australian Council of State and Territory Emergency Services with the cheque for $517, 882 to go towards the interactive training and development courses for the SES.

Below are the twenty one artworks which form the ART ON STEEL Gallery.