‘Best night of my life’: Inside Gina Rinehart’s star-studded 70th birthday
Australia’s richest woman has celebrated her 70th birthday with a star-studded bash on the banks of the Swan River.
Gina Rinehart has celebrated her 70th birthday in style with a star-studded bash featuring a horse show and a performance by Guy Sebastian.
Australia’s richest woman treated her staff at Hancock Prospecting to a lavish black-tie event on the banks of Perth’s Swan River last Thursday evening.
Peter Dutton even made a nine-hour round trip just to spend 40 minutes at the private gathering as the star guest speaker, The Australian Financial Review reported.
The opposition leader left shortly after Question Time on Thursday to fly west, before jumping on a red-eye to Melbourne to attend a Friday morning campaign event ahead of the Dunkley by-election.
Set underneath a giant marquee, Ms Rinehart’s birthday celebration was attended by long-service staff and members of the Australian resources, agriculture and business communities.
“Many attended wearing their Rossi boots, and enjoyed a horseshow backed by the fantastic Aussie music, ‘The Man from Snowy River’, with riders accordingly also dressed in iconic Driza-Bone, and Rossi boots, carrying large Australian and company flags,” Hancock Prospecting said on its website.
Australian Idol winner Sebastian sang the national anthem while Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas was MC for the night.
“It was a very special night actually,” Zempilas told 6PR.
“To see the admiration of the staff, the loyalty, I guess. And yes, it doubled as a 70th birthday party for the current West Australian of the Year.”
The mining magnate, who has a net worth of $37.4 billion, was named 2023’s Western Australian of the Year for her philanthropic support of “worthwhile causes supporting several medical, sporting, veterans, health and other organisations personally and through the Hancock companies”.
“Her support being made possible via successful primary industries, as Mrs Rinehart often says, ‘When mining does well, so do Australians,’” the company said.
Her 70th birthday was celebrated — with multiple chocolate cakes — together with other company executives who have February birthdays.
“The event celebrated the incredible life of one of Australia’s icons and recognised the long-serving staff members of Hancock Prospecting companies, including Roy Hill, Atlas Iron, Hancock Agriculture,” the company said.
Video links were provided for staff in the Pilbara, at farms and stations across Australia and the company’s Brisbane officer, as well as overseas including Phnom Penh, “where Mrs Rinehart’s Cambodian daughters appeared to inspire us all”.
Ms Rinehart founded The Hope Scholarship Program in 2007 after reading an article about the Cambodian child sex trade.
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She rescued nine young girls from local orphanages and ensured they were cared for and attended school, and helped them all attend university.
“Mrs Rinehart’s contributions to worthwhile causes and patriotic and business leadership, make her an inspiration and role model for many Australians, especially women,” Hancock Prospecting said.
“The event was greatly enjoyed by all, with very positive comments by staff who attended, including, ‘The best night of my life.’”
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